Researchers target DNA repair blind spots for BAP1-mutant cancers
A new pan-cancer study has uncovered a shared vulnerability across multiple aggressive cancers and sheds light on the role that BRCA1-associated protein 1 (BAP1) plays in recognizing DNA damage. Researchers from Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Medical School in Singapore discovered that the loss of BAP1 – a mutation found in mesothelioma, cholangiocarcinoma, renal cell carcinoma and uveal melanoma – creates a specific defect in how cancer cells recognize and repair DNA damage.

Researchers target DNA repair blind spots for BAP1-mutant cancers
A new pan-cancer study has uncovered a shared vulnerability across multiple aggressive cancers and sheds light on the role that BRCA1-associated protein 1 (BAP1) plays in recognizing DNA damage. Researchers from Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Medical School in Singapore discovered that the loss of BAP1 – a mutation found in mesothelioma, cholangiocarcinoma, renal cell carcinoma and uveal melanoma – creates a specific defect in how cancer cells recognize and repair DNA damage.
Korsana boosts Alzheimer’s work with reverse merger, $380M financing
Just over a month after emerging from stealth and disclosing a $150 million series A, Korsana Biosciences Inc. is making the leap to the public market via a merger with Cyclerion Therapeutics Inc. The agreement, which is backed by a $370 million private placement from Korsana’s investors, solidly positions the newly merged company as it heads toward the clinic with KRSA-028, a next-generation shuttled antibody targeting amyloid beta for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, and builds out a pipeline of neurodegenerative disease candidates.
Fosun gains clinical trial approval in China for FXB-0871
Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co. Ltd. has received the approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) to initiate a clinical trial of FXB-0871 (TEV-56278) for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors.
Longhorn reports long-acting peptidoglycan-targeted mAb for sepsis
At the World Vaccine Congress this week, Longhorn Vaccines & Diagnostics LLC presented the preclinical characterization of LHNVD-501, a half-life-extended, humanized IgG monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting peptidoglycan (PGN). PGN is a conserved structural component shared across bacterial species and an upstream driver of sepsis, as well as metabolic disease, autoimmune disorders and neurodegeneration.
Ernexa eyes clinic with ERNA-101 for ovarian cancer
Ernexa Therapeutics Inc. is advancing its lead program, ERNA-101, toward an IND submission in the third quarter of this year and the initiation of a first-in-human trial in the fourth quarter for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.
Holiday notice
In accordance with the publishing schedule, BioWorld Science will not be published on Friday, April 3, 2026, and Monday, April 6, 2026.
Best of BioWorld Science: Q1
A selection of top research news from January through March 2026.
COVID-19 mRNA vaccine provides broad-spectrum protection
Researchers from the University of Naples Federico II (Italy) and collaborating institutions reportedd the design of a next-generation mRNA vaccine that leverages a phylogenetically informed consensus receptor binding domain heterotrimers representing the major variant lineages.
New antibody-drug conjugates reported in Biocad patent
Biocad Ltd. has disclosed new antibody-drug conjugates consisting of antibodies covalently linked to cytotoxic drugs through linkers reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Frontier Medicine licenses FMC-220 ex-China rights to LG Chem
Frontier Medicines Corp. has granted LG Chem Ltd. an exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize FMC-220, a covalent p53 Y220C activator, outside of Greater China. Frontier retains ownership and full control in Greater China.

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Conferences

Hematopoietic stem cell research points to leukemia’s early roots
Cancer
Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) research over the past century has shown that leukemia may be driven by an invisible hand of inflammation. The bone marrow and inflammation, then, may hold the keys to preventing blood cancers, according to John E. Dick’s plenary session at the 2026 Korean Society of...
Infinimmune presents preclinical data on anti-IL-22 antibody for atopic dermatitis
Dermatologic
Infinimmune Inc. has recently presented results at the annual American Academy of Dermatology conference regarding their anti-IL-22 antibody IFX-101 for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.
HXN-1023 drives robust anti-inflammatory responses in atopic dermatitis models
Dermatologic
Dysregulated type 2 immune responses are central in atopic dermatitis (AD) pathophysiology. Key cytokine IL-13 drives epidermal barrier dysfunction and inflammation, while IL-31 mediates pruritus via activation of sensory neurons. Both represent clinically validated, complementary targets...
TY-1 ameliorates hypertrophy in mice with HCM
American College of Cardiology
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition that limits tolerance to exercise and predisposes people to sudden cardiac death due to mutations in sarcomeric genes. Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have tested TY-1, a chemically modified oligonucleotide-based drug inspired by the...

Cancer

Potential first-in-class RNF4 PROTAC for HCC disclosed
Degradation inducer
Ring finger protein 4 (RNF4) is a SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligase that modulates proteins involved in cancer progression. Researchers from Chongqing Medical University and collaborators reported the development and preclinical characterization of [I], the first RNF4-targeting PROTAC degrader for the...

Infection

Helmholtz Zentrum München patents compounds for viral infections and cancer
Patents
Helmholtz Zentrum München Universität Hannover has disclosed new heterocyclic compounds designed for use in the treatment of cancer and viral infection.

VY-AD-4116 and VY-AD-4226, dual-targeted synthetic antimicrobials
Conferences
Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay have reported the preclinical development of a new synthetic antimicrobial class incorporating organic metallophores, which yielded two optimized leads – VY-AD-4-11-6 and VY-AD-4-22-6 – from a 30-compound SAR series.
MMV-1581361 combines strong antimalarial efficacy with transmission blockade
New compound
Researchers from GSK plc and collaborators described the identification of MMV-1581361, a PfATP4 inhibitor, and its efficacy in models of malaria. The compound originates from MMV-020136, following structure-activity relationship studies to optimize antimalarial activity.

Neurology/psychiatric

CRISPR-mediated utrophin upregulation preclinically improves DMD
Genetic/congenital
Currently available disease management options for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are mostly symptomatic. Several strategies based on exon-skipping or gene transfer have been proposed to restore dystrophin expression, but can only address specific subsets of DMD patients and/or provide limited...
Funding to advance Marvel’s MB-204 into clinic
Financings
Marvel Biosciences Corp., together with its wholly owned subsidiary Marvel Biotechnology Inc., has announced nondilutive funding from the Alberta Innovates CarE (AICE) market access program to support progression into the clinic and phase I testing of lead compound, MB-204. MB-204, a fluorinated...
Antitumoral antibodies cross the BBB and alter brain signaling
Cancer
Certain cancers, such as triple-negative breast cancer, produce antibodies that, although they help fight the tumor, can cross the blood-brain barrier and alter the function of NMDA receptors (NMDAR) in the brain, which are essential for neuronal signaling. Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor...
Targeting PGAM5 slows down ALS progression
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of motor neurons, leading to muscle wasting and paralysis, among others. Due to its high clinical heterogeneity, effective therapies are still not available.
Molecular signatures show subtypes in neurodegenerative diseases
Conferences
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder best known for its motor symptoms. However, a proportion of patients also develop dementia as the condition advances. Yet the biological divide between those who experience this cognitive decline and those who do not has remained an...

Endocrine/metabolic

Series B financing supports Ambrosia’s cardiometabolic pipeline
Financings
Ambrosia Biosciences Inc. has announced a $100 million oversubscribed series B financing intended to support progression of the company’s oral small-molecule GLP-1 candidate and other novel cardiometabolic programs into clinical development.

Biomarkers

Aberrant HORMAD1 expression in TNBC increases sensitivity to mitotic kinase inhibitors
Cancer
HORMA domain-containing protein 1 (HORMAD1) is a protein that promotes meiotic recombination and its expression is usually restricted to germ-line cells, although it has been shown to be actively expressed out of context in about 60% of triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs). A team at The...

GWAS identifies variant associated with diabetic retinopathy and susceptibility to T2D
GWAS
Scientists at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China and collaborators aimed to identify genetic variants associated with diabetic retinopathy.
IL-22 and TL1A, a robust couple for diagnosing hidradenitis suppurativa
Conferences
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with strong association with psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). While some signaling pathways are well defined in HS, the role of TNF-like ligand 1 (TL1A) is not well understood. A group of researchers has...

Gastrointestinal

HHEX emerges as a potential IBD target
In recent work, researchers from Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and Shanghai Colorectal Cancer Research Center reported that the transcription factor hematopoietically expressed homeobox (HHEX) promotes tumorigenesis in...
KIST and Neocannbio report new NO production inhibitors
Patents
The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and Neocannbio Co. Ltd. have jointly identified compounds acting as nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitors with potential for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
GPR68 negative allosteric modulator ameliorates ulcerative colitis
Conferences
G-protein coupled receptor 68 (GPR68) is an acid-sensing protein receptor that has been implicated in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis by its modulation of the inflammatory response and fibrosis.
SIK2 inhibitor mitigates pathology in ulcerative colitis models
Conferences
Salt-inducible kinase 2 (SIK2) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates transcriptional programs in myeloid cells by phosphorylating transcriptional coregulators. In macrophages, SIK2 promotes the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and...
Targeting OGFOD1 improves hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury
Cardiovascular
Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) is a severe pathologic condition associated with poor outcomes when individuals suffer from hemorrhagic shock, liver resection or transplantation surgery, leading to severe liver impairment and sometimes...
Spyre reports enhanced efficacy of anti-TL1A and anti-IL-23 combination
Conferences
Researchers from Spyre Therapeutics Inc. reported on the therapeutic efficacy of combining anti-TL1A and anti-IL-23 antibodies in preclinical models of colitis.

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