Aerium Therapeutics Inc. has licensed and commenced development of three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) with broad and potent activity against the predominant variants of SARS-CoV-2, including those containing the F456L mutation, such as EG.5.1. These antibodies could provide an option to protect immunocompromised populations from severe COVID-19.
Iambic Therapeutics Inc. (formerly Entos Inc.) has closed a $100 million series B financing. The company intends to use this funding to support continued artificial intelligence (AI) platform innovations and advance candidates into clinical development.
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, has awarded Vir Biotechnology Inc. approximately $50 million in new funding to advance the development of novel monoclonal antibody (MAb) candidates and delivery solutions to widen the applicability of MAbs in COVID-19 and in pandemic preparedness and response.
The activation of the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway is key for antitumor immunity. However, the development of STING agonist-based strategies in cancer has so far encountered limitations such as incomplete tumor regression or adverse effects derived from chronic activation.
A presentation given recently by Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. highlighted preclinical data for the company’s new anti-PD1-IL-2 BiSKIT (Bifunctional SuperKine for ImmunoTherapy) candidate, MDNA-223, being developed as a anticancer therapeutic candidate.
Sosei Group Corp. and Verily Life Sciences LLC, an Alphabet company, have announced the successful validation and nomination of a first G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) target into early drug discovery for immune-mediated diseases with an initial indication focus of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Researchers from MD Anderson Cancer Center recently presented the discovery and preclinical evaluation of LLO-CD47, a novel protein-antibody conjugate linking anti-CD47 to Listeriolysin O (LLO), a pore-forming protein secreted by Listeria monocytogenes to escape lysosomes.
The broadest view of post-mortem brains in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has unveiled the genome, transcriptome and epigenome alterations of this neurodegenerative condition. The coordinated research, directed by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), also described new cellular pathways that could help the scientific community design new therapies. Four simultaneous studies published on Sept. 28, 2023, in Cell, presented a brain single-cell atlas of AD, exposed the damage that affects DNA, and described the processes that alter the microglia and dysregulate the epigenome.
Kumquat Biosciences Inc. has described heterocyclic compounds and PROTACs acting as GTPase KRAS (G12D, G12C, G12S and G13D mutant), and/or G12V and wild-type GTPase KRAS inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.