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European initiative aims to bring molecular dynamics into mainstream drug discovery
What if the vast amounts of data generated by molecular dynamics simulations could be routinely shared and reused? A new €10 million European initiative aims to do just that, helping researchers gain a deeper understanding of protein behaviour and drug-target interactions.
Researchers reveal how entinostat disrupts pancreatic cancer repair
Scientists at the Salk Institute have discovered how the investigational HDAC inhibitor entinostat disrupts DNA repair mechanisms in pancreatic cancer cells, potentially enabling more effective combination therapies with reduced toxicity through novel nanoparticle delivery systems.
mRNA vaccine shows promise against childhood neuroblastoma cancer
Preclinical study demonstrates effectiveness of experimental mRNA vaccine against neuroblastoma, reducing tumour size by 70 percent and delaying development. RCSI researchers used peptide nanoparticles targeting GPC2 protein to direct immune response against cancer cells, offering potential new treatment approach for aggressive childhood malignancy.
AI reveals antimicrobial peptides hidden within prion proteins
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have used artificial intelligence to identify a new class of antimicrobial peptides within prion proteins, traditionally associated with neurodegenerative disease. The discovery reveals 1,179 potential antibiotic candidates, with laboratory and animal studies confirming activity against drug-resistant bacterial strains.
Blocking cathepsin B protein enhances CAR T-cell therapy effectiveness
University of Maryland researchers have discovered that blocking cathepsin B protein prevents CAR T-cells from losing effectiveness, potentially improving long-term outcomes for blood cancer patients. The preclinical findings reveal that engineered immune cells inadvertently weaken themselves by acquiring tumour fragments, a process that can be prevented through targeted protein inhibition.
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Blocking cathepsin B protein enhances CAR T-cell therapy effectiveness
University of Maryland researchers have discovered that blocking cathepsin B protein prevents CAR T-cells from losing effectiveness, potentially improving long-term outcomes for blood cancer patients. The preclinical findings reveal that engineered immune cells inadvertently weaken themselves by acquiring tumour fragments, a process that can be prevented through targeted protein inhibition.
Cerebral organoids identify Ebola virus persistence in neural tissue
Researchers have used human brain organoids to demonstrate that Ebola virus can replicate in neural tissue for up to 120 days, offering new insights into viral persistence mechanisms in immune-privileged sites and late-stage inflammatory complications in survivors.
Thalidomide shows potential for treating rare brain vascular malformations
Researchers in China have reported encouraging preclinical and early clinical evidence that thalidomide may help stabilise and reduce rare vascular malformations affecting the brain and spinal cord, potentially offering the first medical treatment option for patients with central nervous system arteriovenous malformations who are unsuitable for invasive procedures.
Membrane lipid composition directly regulates EGFR activity in cells
MIT researchers have demonstrated that cell membrane composition directly influences EGFR activity, with elevated negatively charged lipids locking the receptor into a growth-promoting state.
LabGenius and LG Chem partner on AI-driven cancer antibodies
LabGenius Therapeutics has partnered with LG Chem to develop next-generation multispecific antibodies targeting solid tumours. The collaboration combines AI-driven drug discovery with oncology development expertise to identify therapeutics with improved selectivity and reduced toxicity.
AI-designed proteins self-assemble into virus-like drug delivery structures
An international collaboration has developed AI-designed protein structures that self-assemble into virus-like nanocages using quasisymmetry principles, offering new possibilities for targeted drug delivery, vaccine development and genetic material transport without relying on modified viral proteins.
Pim1 kinase identified as therapeutic target for inflammatory arthritis
Researchers have identified Pim1 kinase as a critical driver of inflammatory arthritis through its regulation of Th17 cell differentiation via mitochondrial metabolism.
Researchers develop automated DESI-MS platform for faster cancer drug discovery
Scientists at Purdue University have created an automated ultrahigh-throughput platform that integrates chemical synthesis, biological testing and mass spectrometry into a single workflow, potentially reducing the time needed to identify promising cancer drug candidates from weeks to hours.
New framework standardises glioma organoid research for translational studies
A collaborative review published in Neuro-Oncology establishes a unified classification system for glioma organoid models, addressing inconsistent terminology and methodology across the rapidly expanding field.
AI-powered $6M project targets new Alzheimer’s treatments
A $6 million NIH-funded collaboration between Indiana University School of Medicine and Luddy School of Informatics aims to deploy AI and machine learning to identify promising Alzheimer’s drug candidates, screening billions of compounds to overcome traditional discovery bottlenecks.
New kidney water regulation mechanism could improve polycystic kidney disease treatment
Scientists at Mayo Clinic have discovered a previously unknown mechanism by which kidneys regulate water balance, offering new therapeutic possibilities for polycystic kidney disease patients experiencing severe side effects from current treatments.
Copper drug Cu(ATSM) reduces Alzheimer’s proteins by 42 percent in preclinical study
A copper-delivering compound has demonstrated the ability to restore blood-brain barrier clearance mechanisms, reducing amyloid-beta accumulation by 42 percent and improving spatial learning by 44 percent in Alzheimer’s disease models, according to research published in ACS Chemical Neuroscience.
Glycine transporter suppression restores NMDAR function in autism models
Researchers have identified a novel therapeutic strategy for autism spectrum disorder by suppressing the glycine transporter SLC6A20, successfully restoring NMDA receptor function in both mouse models and human cortical organoids carrying SHANK2 and SHANK3 mutations.
Mineralised DNA hydrogel accelerates bone repair in preclinical studies
A mineralised DNA hydrogel has demonstrated accelerated bone repair and improved tissue mineralisation in preclinical studies, offering a potential new approach to treating difficult bone defects through combined immune regulation and sustained regeneration.
Cytokine-armoured CAR T cells target glioblastoma while reducing treatment toxicity
UCLA Health researchers have developed cytokine-armoured CAR T cells that directly attack glioblastoma tumours whilst recruiting the body’s wider immune system. The engineered cells showed improved tumour control in mouse models and could address antigen heterogeneity challenges that have limited CAR T therapy success in solid tumours.
AI-designed miniproteins target GPCRs in drug discovery
GPCRs account for a significant proportion of approved drug targets, yet selectively controlling their activity remains a major challenge. Researchers have now used AI-assisted protein design to create miniproteins capable of activating or inhibiting these receptors, providing an alternative strategy for targeting this important class of membrane proteins.
Radiotherapy boosts CAR T cell survival in solid tumours
Mount Sinai researchers have discovered that focused irradiation significantly enhances CAR T cell therapy effectiveness in solid tumours by promoting dendritic cell-mediated antigen presentation, enabling sustained immune cell expansion within the tumour microenvironment whilst minimising off-target toxicity.
Notch2 enables breast cancer dormancy in protective bone marrow niches
New research has demonstrated how breast cancer cells exploit protective bone marrow niches to remain dormant for years, identifying Notch2 signalling and stem cell-like markers as key regulators of cellular dormancy that could inform therapeutic strategies to prevent relapse.
ELRIG announces keynote speakers for Drug Discovery 2026 conference in London
ELRIG has announced its keynote speaker programme for Drug Discovery 2026, with LifeArc’s Dr Sam Barrell CBE delivering the opening address.
Ferroptosis emerges as strategy against treatment-resistant digestive cancers
Researchers are investigating ferroptosis, an iron-dependent cell death pathway, as a potential approach to overcome treatment resistance in digestive cancers.