This week in Drug Discovery (27 – 31 October)
News round-up for 27 – 31 October by Bruno Quinney, Content Team at DDW.
Women’s health is top of this week’s agenda, as Bayer paves the way for a new approach to treat hot flashes due to menopause. Elsewhere, an anti-obesity medication has health benefits beyond weight loss and Alector has discontinued its dementia drug.
The top stories:
Bayer’s new approach to hot flashes receives FDA approval
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Lynkuet (elinzanetant) 60mg capsules, the first and only dual neurokinin (NK) targeted therapy, neurokinin 1 (NK1) and neurokinin 3 (NK3) receptor antagonist, for the treatment of moderate to severe hot flashes due to menopause.
Semaglutide protects heart beyond weight loss benefits
Anti-obesity medication semaglutide may help to prevent heart attacks and other major cardiac events regardless of how much weight people lose while taking the drug, says a new study led by University College London (UCL).
BMS’s CART-T shows potential for immune reset in lupus
Bristol Myers Squibb has shared its first results in chronic, refractory autoimmune diseases from the Phase I Breakfree-1 study of its investigational, autologous CD19-targeted NEX-T CAR T cell therapy BMS-986353 (CC-97540).
Alector discontinues dementia drug and cuts staff by 49%
Alector has revealed that, in a Phase III clinical trial in individuals with frontotemporal dementia due to a progranulin gene mutation (FTD-GRN), its candidate latozinemab (AL001) did not meet the clinical co-primary endpoint.
Sanofi extends Medidata partnership to develop new therapies
Sanofi has announced it will extend its partnership with technology company Medidata to expedite the development of new therapies.