Moderna has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an update to the emergency use authorisation for the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine (mRNA-1273) to include a third dose for immunocompromised individuals. The third dose will available to people 18 years of age or older in the United… Read More
The National Institute of Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded Wake Forest School of Medicine $15.2 million over five years in support of its research centre for Alzheimer’s disease. Established in 2016 with a multimillion-dollar NIA grant, the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) at Wake… Read More
News round-up by DDW’s Megan Thomas for 9-13 August This week, DDW’s Megan Thomas has rounded up five stories which report positive data and findings from around the globe in the drug discovery sector. Preclinical data on oral polymer-based duodenal exclusion therapy Glyscend has presented data during the American… Read More
Avacta Group has dosed the first patient in its Phase I multicentre trial evaluating AVA6000, a novel pro-drug of Doxorubicin and the company’s first therapeutic based on its pre|CISION technology. The pre|CISION platform incorporates a substrate that is specifically cleaved by the protease fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAPa), which is… Read More
Cali Biosciences (CaliBio) has initiated a Phase IIb study of its perioperative long-acting analgesic product CPL- 01, an extended-release injectable version of Naropin (ropivacaine hydrochloride), developed to treat post-operative surgical pain and reduce the need for opioids. This Phase IIb clinical trial is the first in a series of MERIT… Read More
Mount Sinai researchers have made headway in treating a rare but serious aftereffect of Covid-19 in children, known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children or MIS-C. The study was published in Nature Communications. The researchers reported that RNA sequencing of blood samples from the Mount Sinai Covid-19 Biobank led to… Read More
Skymount Medical and Louisiana State University (LSU) have commenced human studies on a unique combination of therapies for Covid-19 patients, known as SM-19. In vitro and in vivo assays conducted by the IIT Research Institute (IITRI) in Chicago showed significant efficacy in reducing viral load of the SARS-Cov-2 virus. The… Read More
Exscientia has announced the opening of a 21,000 square foot expansion of its facilities at Oxford Science Park, UK, increasing capacity for its technology teams as well as significantly expanding its laboratory-based experimental capabilities in structural biology, biophysics and high-content pharmacology. In parallel, Exscientia is building a new 26,000 square… Read More
Biotechs involved in drug discovery have to navigate increasingly complex regulatory environments across borders. Experienced experts and non-executive advisors to Arriello, Eric Caugant in Paris and Judi Sills in New Jersey highlight the main differences between US and EU requirements, and advise on best preparations. Small biotech companies are commanding… Read More
Earlier this year, Exscientia announced what was said to be the first AI-designed immuno-oncology drug to enter clinical trials. Lu Rahman talks to CEO Andrew Hopkins about the company’s work and use of AI in drug discovery. LR: How AI has been used in this process and what benefits has… Read More
Appili Therapeutics has entered into a $3.5 million convertible security funding agreement with Lind Global Fund. The company intends to use the funding to advance the broader Appili pipeline, including ATI-2307, a novel clinical stage antifungal expected to enter Phase II study in 2022. It will also support the operations… Read More
DDW Editor Lu Rahman selects three Canadian start-ups worth watching: AbCellera Biologics, BlueRock Therapeutics and Deep Genomics. AbCellera Biologics AbCellera Biologics was founded in 2012 as a spin out from the University of British Colombia. The company searches, decodes, and analyses natural immune systems to find antibodies that can be… Read More
Ascletis Pharma has announced that China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved the Phase II clinical trial application of ASC40 for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe acne. The Phase II trial is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre clinical trial to be conducted in China to evaluate… Read More
Listen to this article on the DDW Podcast: Brad Hamilton, Founder and Chief Science Officer at GoodCell examines the potential of induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Across the world, patients suffering from heart failure, donor organ rejection and many other life-altering illnesses are struggling to combat the symptoms of their conditions. What… Read More
Massachusetts-headquartered Fulcrum Therapeutics has announced positive interim results from the ongoing single and multiple-ascending dose (SAD and MAD) Phase I trial with FTX-6058 in healthy adult volunteers. FTX-6058 is an investigational, potent and selective small molecule inhibitor of EED designed to increase the expression of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) with the… Read More
Evotec has been informed by Bayer about positive Phase IIb results from a clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of the investigational P2X3 receptor antagonist eliapixant (BAY1817080) in patients with refractory chronic cough. The underlying molecule is a P2X3 receptor antagonist in Bayer’s clinical development pipeline originating from a… Read More
