The existence of two approved therapies, Lumakras (sotorasib, Amgen Inc.) and Karzati (adagrasib, Mirati Therapeutics Inc.), has been a triumphant success against KRAS, a protein that was once considered undruggable. KRAS is the most frequently mutated oncogene in solid tumors. KRAS driver mutations are found in about 30% of non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC), about half of colorectal cancers, and more than 90% of pancreatic cancers. Lumakras and Karzati both target the G12C mutation. Inhibitors that target other mutations, like G12D, are now making their way through preclinical and clinical development, while some companies are developing therapies that would target mutated KRAS more broadly, irrespective of the specific mutation that is activating the protein.
The existence of two approved therapies, Lumakras (sotorasib, Amgen Inc.) and Karzati (adagrasib, Mirati Therapeutics Inc.), has been a triumphant success against KRAS, a protein that was once considered undruggable. KRAS is the most frequently mutated oncogene in solid tumors. KRAS driver mutations are found in about 30% of non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC), about half of colorectal cancers, and more than 90% of pancreatic cancers. Lumakras and Karzati both target the G12C mutation. Inhibitors that target other mutations, like G12D, are now making their way through preclinical and clinical development, while some companies are developing therapies that would target mutated KRAS more broadly, irrespective of the specific mutation that is activating the protein.
Son of sevenless homolog 1 (SOS1) plays a crucial role in the conversion of KRAS from its GDP- to its GTP-bound form independently of KRAS mutational status, thus being a promising therapeutic target for all tumors driven by KRAS. Haihe Biopharma Co. Ltd. has presented a potent SOS1 inhibitor, HH-100937, that has been found effective as monotherapy or when combined with drugs targeting the KRAS/MAPK pathway.
Proof-of-concept findings had shown that mRNA silencing of striatal Cav1.3 channels prevented and reversed established levodopa-induced dyskinesia in parkinsonian rats, with these effects being maintained in aged rats.
Ochre Bio Ltd. has established a partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG focused on the discovery and development of novel first-in-class regenerative treatments for chronic liver diseases, such as late-stage metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) cirrhosis.
Crossfire Oncology BV has disclosed CFON-026, a potent, highly selective and macrocyclic noncovalent inhibitor of wild-type (WT) Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) and all clinically relevant BTK resistance mutations, with best-in-class potential for the treatment of cancer.
Researchers from Dong-A Socio Holdings Co. Ltd. presented a first-in-class Src homology 2 domain-containing phosphatase 1 (SHP1) allosteric inhibitor, SB-8091, being developed as an anticancer agent.
Rac1 is a small GTPase, the hyperactivation of which is linked to tumor progression and drug resistance. The oncogenic variant Rac1b has been shown to be overexpressed in cancers, such as colorectal cancer (CRC), and it has also been correlated with poor prognosis and CRC resistance to oxaliplatin.
In tumors with amino acid deprivation, eIF-2α kinase GCN2 is activated and triggers a signaling response to promote cell survival and proliferation. This is important in high metabolically active hematological cancers, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Newco Outrun Therapeutics Ltd. has raised $10 million in a seed round to develop small-molecule E3 ubiquitin ligase inhibitors that prevent programmed protein degradation. The lead program targeting an E3 ligase that tags a tumor suppressor protein for destruction will now advance to preclinical...
YS Biopharma Co. Ltd. has received clinical trial approval by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration to begin a phase I trial of its YS-HBV-002 immunotherapeutic vaccine, designed to treat chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The trial will begin in the Philippines in June.
Spikimm SAS has signed an exclusive collaboration and license option agreement with SATT Conectus Alsace SAS for monoclonal antibodies targeting the BK virus. Reactivation of the BK virus (BKV) in patients receiving kidney transplant, bone marrow or stem cell grafts has potential serious consequences.
The FDA has granted orphan drug designation to the active ingredient in Soligenix Inc.’s Marvax, a heat stable subunit protein vaccine of recombinantly expressed Marburg marburgvirus (MARV) glycoprotein, for the prevention and post-exposure prophylaxis against MARV infection.
The U.S. FDA has cleared Centessa Pharmaceuticals plc’s IND to initiate a phase I first-in-human, clinical trial of ORX-750 for the treatment of narcolepsy.
The generation of pathogenic autoantibodies is a crucial event in the development of inflammation and complement activation, leading to immune cell responses.
Ipsen SA and Skyhawk Therapeutics Inc. have entered an exclusive worldwide collaboration to discover and develop small molecules that modulate RNA for rare neurological diseases. Skyhawk has a unique platform that accelerates building RNA-targeting small molecules across several therapeutic areas.
Vanishing white matter disease (VWM) is a rare and progressive leukoencephalopathy caused by loss-of-function mutations, in a recessive pattern of inheritance, in any of the genes encoding eIF2B, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for eIF2 and an effector of the integrated stress response (ISR)....
Wista Laboratories Ltd. has disclosed thiazole-containing compounds acting as microtubule-associated protein tau (PHF-tau; MAPT) aggregation inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of corticobasal syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome and more.
Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) is a disease characterized by hypoalbuminemia, proteinuria, edema and hyperlipidemia, and a cause of chronic kidney disease in the pediatric population.
Unknown etiology is commonly encountered in the kidney pre-transplant routine program. A screening program was performed to detect patients and study recipients that meet the following features: hypertension with no clear etiology and biopsies that do not match with clinical features of classical...
Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder characterized by abnormal functioning of the glomerular filtration barrier, and is frequently caused by focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). At the World Congress of Nephrology meeting this week, researchers presented a case report of a 32-year-old...
Palisade Bio Inc. has completed its analysis evaluating ex vivo bioactivation of PALI-2108, an orally administered, locally acting colon-specific phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor prodrug in development for ulcerative colitis.
Scientists from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and affiliated organizations have discovered novel GPR183 antagonists as potential therapeutic candidates for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). With the aim of improving the...
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, shows different occurrence between sexes, being less prevalent in premenopausal women than in men or postmenopausal women.
Parvus Therapeutics Inc. has entered into an exclusive worldwide collaboration and option agreement with Abbvie Inc. for the development and commercialization of novel treatments for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), utilizing Parvus’ Navacim...
Entera Bio Ltd. has announced promising pharmacokinetic (PK) results from its collaborative research combining a proprietary long-acting GLP-2 agonist developed by Opko Health Inc. with Entera’s proprietary N-Tab technology.
Breakthrough medicines, billion-dollar deals, spectacular clinical successes and crushing failures all play a part in biopharma’s dynamic story. Developers make scientific advancements with the potential to change everything, only to face regulatory conundrums and ever-fluctuating markets. BioWorld tracks key events in the fast-moving sector every business day. Now, the BioWorld Insider podcast lets you hear directly from the movers and shakers whose collective work is changing how we all live. Join us each week for a new conversation.