Sigma-2 receptor modulation using exogenous ligands reduces cellular damage associated with central nervous system degeneration in age-related pathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or dry age-related macular degeneration. Researchers from Cognition Therapeutics Inc. described the neuroprotective effect of CT-2074, a sigma-2 receptor in preclinical models of open-angle glaucoma.

A recent study by researchers from Fudan University and Tau Cambridge Ltd. explored a novel therapeutic strategy that combines targeting CD47 with ANGPTL3, a key regulator of lipid metabolism, as a potential treatment for atherosclerosis.

Atavistik Bio Inc. has entered into a research collaboration with Pfizer Inc. to accelerate the discovery of novel precision allosteric therapeutics for unmet medical needs. Under the collaboration, Atavistik Bio will leverage its proprietary AMPS platform to identify novel allosteric binders against two undisclosed targets selected by Pfizer.

In accordance with the publishing schedule, BioWorld Science was not published on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025.

Additional early-stage research and drug discovery news in brief, from: Io Therapeutics.

Nico Therapeutics Inc. has described NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease [MASLD]).

Shanghai Huilun Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has synthesized proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds comprising an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase binding moiety coupled to an interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK-4)-targeting moiety through a linker.