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In the News
Latest life sciences and industry news
A round-up of the latest developments from across our industry
The world's first clinical trials for a groundbreaking "tooth regrowth medicine" are scheduled to begin in September at Kyoto University Hospital. Following safety confirmation, the medicine will be administered to patients with congenital tooth deficiencies to assess its efficacy, with the goal of commercial release by 2030.
Cessation Therapeutics' novel monoclonal antibody, CSX-1004, is entering Phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of opioid addiction. CSX-1004 is designed to neutralize fentanyl in the bloodstream before it reaches the brain, potentially preventing overdoses. Preclinical studies in primates have shown a single dose can protect against lethal doses for up to one month.
Geron Corporation has received FDA approval for Rytelo™ (imetelstat), the first and only approved telomerase inhibitor. This groundbreaking new drug treats transfusion-dependent anemia in patients with certain types of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).
Top developmental changes and breakthroughs in the life sciences industry
A single copy of a rare gene variant, APOE3 Christchurch, has been found by Mass General Brigham Hospital researchers to delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease in a Colombian family with a genetic predisposition for early-onset dementia. The findings offer new hope for potential therapies targeting this genetic pathway to combat the devastating disease.
Common medications for enlarged prostates may hold the surprising potential to protect against dementia with Lewy bodies. This discovery by University of Iowa researchers suggests terazosin, doxazosin, and alfuzosin could target a biological flaw shared by various brain diseases. Preclinical studies suggest that this ability may help slow or prevent neurodegenerative diseases.
Chemical structures of approved prostate medications.
Indulging in a high-fat diet might do more than just expand your waistline - it could also trigger anxiety. A new study from the University of Colorado reveals that a fatty diet can alter gut bacteria, leading to changes in brain chemistry that fuel anxious behavior by altering expression of serotonergic gene expression (tph2, htr1a, and slc6a4).
University of Texas researchers have successfully reversed multiple hallmarks of aging in preclinical models. Insufficient telomerase activity, associated with low TERT expression, is a key factor in telomere dysfunction and aging-related diseases. Researchers identified a TERT activator compound (TAC) that upregulates TERT transcription, leading to reduced cellular senescence and improved cognitive function. These findings suggest TERT activation as a potential therapeutic strategy for mitigating age-related pathologies.
Featured: Human Milk Oligosaccharides and Human Health Research
Research on human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) is crucial for understanding their diverse roles in infant health, including shaping gut microbiota and immune function. This knowledge could revolutionize infant nutrition and potentially lead to novel therapies for various diseases.
Researchers at the University of California have genetically engineered Nicotiana benthamiana, a relative of the tobacco plant, to produce human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). These complex sugars, crucial for infant gut health and immunity, have traditionally been challenging to manufacture. This breakthrough offers a promising pathway for developing more nutritious and affordable infant formula, as well as potential applications in adult nutrition and medicine.
Researchers at Jiangnan University found HMOs can enhance resistance against gastrointestinal viruses, including rotavirus, norovirus, and enterovirus, which can cause severe illness and even death in children. This protective effect stems from the unique structures of HMOs that modulate gut microbiota and the immune system—a neutral core, a lactose core, or a sialylated structure. Further investigation into the mechanisms of HMO antiviral activity could pave the way for novel therapeutics derived from these beneficial compounds.
Maternal HMO patterns significantly influence infant gut microbiota composition, particularly Bifidobacterium species abundance. Peking University researchers found that secretor mothers, producing diverse HMOs, had infants with lower Bifidobacterium bifidum levels, highlighting the importance of HMO diversity in shaping the early-life gut microbiome and potentially influencing infant health outcomes.
HMOs play a crucial role in shaping the gut microbiota and immune system development in newborns. University of Copenhagen researchers published that HMOs differentially modulate human macrophage responses to Staphylococcus aureus. Specifically, 6'-sialyllactose (6'SL) induces an activated M1-like phenotype, enhancing pro-inflammatory cytokine production, NF-κB expression, phagocytosis, and bacterial uptake. Notably, HMO effects are primarily observed in the presence of S. aureus, suggesting targeted immune modulation against pathogens during early infancy.
Biosynth is proud to have a large selection of HMOs available in our extensive catalog. As experts in oligosaccharide synthesis, we can help researchers develop novel and complex oligosaccharides to support HMO research. Contact us to move your project forward.
Helping Solve Pharma and Diagnostics Manufacturing Problems to Reduce Time to Market
1moRegrowing teeth?! Amazing. Now I am having to read up of USAG-1 having seen this anti-USAG-1 antibody treatment.