Psoriatic arthritis mutilans (PAM) is a rare variant and the most severe form of psoriatic arthritis where patients present erosions of the small joints and osteolysis leading to joint disruption and shortening of one or more digits. To date, no susceptibility genes have been determined.
Imunon Inc. has released promising results from a live virus challenge study conducted by the Wistar Institute with IMNN-101 against the SARS-CoV-2 variant XBB.1.5. This study was conducted using the clinical vector that Imunon intends to bring into its phase I study during the second quarter, and showed IMNN-101 immunogenicity and protective activity in a live viral mouse challenge.
T-cell-engaging antibodies (TCEs) are synthetic molecules that redirect T cells to bind to the antigens on the surface of cancer cells to promote tumor elimination. In the case of multiple myeloma (MM), the approvals of anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies (CAR T) targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) or, more recently, bispecific TCEs represent great advances, but some patients still relapse after treatment.
Researchers from the La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) and collaborators have presented a new platform to identify and validate neoantigens that would otherwise escape traditional routine sampling methods. The project, which they describe in an article published on Feb. 28, 2024, in Science Translational Medicine, started after discussions at the beginning of a cancer vaccine program between teams at UCSD Moores Cancer Center (MCC) and LJI.
San Diego-based Kenai Therapeutics Inc. raised $82 million in a series A round to move its disease-modifying cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease into the clinic. The company, which leverages induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, will advance its next-generation allogeneic neuron replacement cell therapies for neurological diseases, specifically completing a clinical proof-of-concept trial for its lead candidate, RNDP-001. The series A was co-led by Alaska Permanent Fund Corp., Cure Ventures and The Column Group, with participation from Euclidean Capital and Saisei Ventures. Proceeds will enable Kenai to submit an IND for RNDP-001 and bring it through the completion of phase I trials, which are expected to begin sometime in 2024.
Scientists at Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co. Ltd. and Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. have described proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds comprising an E3 ubiquitin ligase binding moiety covalently linked to an EGFR targeting moiety reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer particularly, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Avitar Biosciences Inc. has divulged 3C-like proteinase (3CLpro; Mpro; nsp5) (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 virus) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19).
Researchers at Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) and University of British Columbia have identified radiolabeled compounds targeting glutamate carboxypeptidase II (NAALADase; NAAG peptidase, FOLH1; PSMA) acting as positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging agents with low uptake in salivary glands and kidneys reported to be useful for the diagnosis of prostate cancer.