This week in drug discovery (2-6 August)

News round-up by DDW’s Megan Thomas for 2-6 August

This week has seen results released, research continued, and clinical trial phases completed. DDW’s Megan Thomas has rounded up her top five stories showing promise in the drug discovery industry.

1. Cardiac patients receiving nasal gel showed reduction of S. aureus

Destiny Pharma, a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the development of novel medicines that can prevent life threatening infections, has released data from its recent Phase IIb clinical trial.

2. Moderna doses first patient with its IL-2 mRNA therapeutic candidate

Moderna has dosed the first patients in the Phase I study of mRNA-6231, the company’s mRNA-encoded IL-2, modified for the expansion of regulatory T cells.

3. New drug provides potential improved treatment for blindness

A potential improved treatment for two of the leading causes of blindness – age and diabetes-related eye problems – has been demonstrated in research involving University of Queensland expert Professor Di Yu of the UQ Diamantina Institute, who collaborated with scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Beijing Chaoyang Hospital to address an issue affecting approximately 450 million people worldwide.

4. Study could combat aggressive chemotherapy resistant TNBC

A Mount Sinai study titled Simultaneous CK2/TNIK/DYRK1 inhibition by 108600 suppresses triple negative breast cancer stem cells and chemotherapy-resistant disease describes how a novel therapeutic (108600) combats aggressive chemotherapy-resistant triple-negative breast cancer (TBNC).

5. Novel research identifies gene targets of stress hormones in the brain

New research has moved a step forward in understanding how glucocorticoid hormones (‘stress hormones’) act upon the brain and what their function is. The findings could lead to more effective strategies in the prevention and treatment of mental health disorders.