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OutSee secures £50k innovate UK grant for AI target validation
UK genomics and drug discovery company OutSee has received £50,000 in Innovate UK funding to develop an agentic AI sub-system designed to automate the initial triage of drug targets identified by its Nomaly genomics engine.
New malaria mutations linked to resistance against multiple front-line drugs
Whole-genome sequencing of parasites from Ugandan patients has uncovered a cluster of genetic variants linked to reduced susceptibility to multiple front-line malaria treatments, with researchers warning the mutations are spreading rapidly.
Why cancer drug CADD522 could offer a new route to treating osteoporosis
A compound originally designed to block a cancer-associated protein has demonstrated unexpected benefits for bone health and metabolism in post-menopausal mice, suggesting a potential new mechanism for osteoporosis drug discovery.
GLP-1 drug semaglutide extends lifespan and slows ageing in older mice
A new NIH-funded study suggests the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide may slow biological ageing and extend lifespan in older mice, raising the prospect that GLP-1 drugs could one day be developed as broad longevity-enhancing interventions.
Airborne drying linked to DNA damage and drug resistance in TB bacteria
Airborne transmission may do more than simply carry tuberculosis from one person to another. A new study published in Nature Microbiology suggests that the drying process experienced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in respiratory droplets can trigger oxidative stress and DNA damage, activating repair mechanisms that may influence the development and survival of drug-resistant strains.
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Airborne drying linked to DNA damage and drug resistance in TB bacteria
Airborne transmission may do more than simply carry tuberculosis from one person to another. A new study published in Nature Microbiology suggests that the drying process experienced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in respiratory droplets can trigger oxidative stress and DNA damage, activating repair mechanisms that may influence the development and survival of drug-resistant strains.
Oligonucleotide CDMO market set to triple to $11.14bn by 2031
The global oligonucleotide CDMO market is projected to nearly triple in value to USD 11.14 billion by 2031, driven by rising outsourcing demand as ASO and siRNA programmes advance through clinical and commercial development stages.
Insilico launches specialist AI models for drug discovery chemistry
Insilico Medicine has unveiled a suite of compact, domain-trained AI models targeting ADMET prediction, retrosynthesis and target activity across GPCR and kinase panels, claiming state-of-the-art results on more than 70 benchmarks.
Patient-derived tumour organoid biobank maps cancer gene dependencies
A biobank of 256 patient-derived tumour organoids, combined with genome-wide CRISPR–Cas9 screening, has produced a detailed map of cancer gene dependencies across five tumour types, revealing both shared vulnerabilities and mutation-specific targets with implications for precision oncology.
Engineered tRNAs and lipid nanoparticles target nonsense mutation cystic fibrosis
A preclinical study combining chemically modified suppressor tRNAs with inhaled lipid nanoparticles has restored functional CFTR protein production across bronchial epithelial cells, mouse models and patient-derived organoids, offering a potential new therapeutic strategy for nonsense mutation-driven cystic fibrosis.
New LOX target discovery could help overcome chemotherapy-resistant breast cancer
A preclinical study has identified lysyl oxidase as an intracellular survival factor in triple-negative breast cancer, with researchers demonstrating that sequentially blocking LOX and a compensatory ferroptosis defence pathway significantly suppresses tumour growth without chemotherapy.
Blood metabolite links ALS progression rate to potential treatment target
A metabolic signal detectable in patient blood has been linked to ALS progression rate and survival, with preclinical data suggesting that boosting levels of the molecule could protect motor neurons and extend survival in disease models.
MYC-driven breast cancers show exploitable metabolic vulnerability
A preclinical study has identified a metabolic vulnerability in aggressive MYC-driven breast cancers, with researchers demonstrating that simultaneously blocking mitochondrial respiration and glutamine uptake significantly slows tumour growth in mouse models.
Peptide vaccine targeting PCSK9 reduces cholesterol and atherosclerotic plaque in mice
A structure-guided peptide vaccine targeting PCSK9 has reduced LDL cholesterol and atherosclerotic plaque burden in mouse models, offering a potential longer-lasting alternative to existing PCSK9-targeting biologics, though primate results remain inconclusive.
Review challenges one-size-fits-all approach to OSCC drug delivery
A new review published in the European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics argues that no single local drug-delivery formulation will suit every oral squamous cell carcinoma tumour, urging researchers to anchor development in clinical and biological context from the outset.
BRAF identified as novel target for neuropathic pain treatment
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered that BRAF, a protein well known for its role in cancer, may also drive chronic pain following nerve injury – raising the prospect of repurposing approved cancer drugs as treatments for neuropathic pain.
Regnase-1 deletion boosts CAR T-cell efficacy against paediatric osteosarcoma
St Jude researchers have demonstrated that deleting the Regnase-1 gene from CAR T cells significantly improves tumour control and prevents metastasis in preclinical models of relapsed osteosarcoma, paving the way for an early-phase clinical trial.
Stem cell-grown kidney organoids could help uncover new treatments for AKI
Researchers at Monash University have grown miniature human kidneys from stem cells that could give drug discovery teams a more human-relevant model for investigating acute kidney injury and identifying therapies that promote tissue recovery.
HER3-DXd and olaparib combination boosts lung cancer treatment responses
A new preclinical study finds that combining the antibody-drug conjugate HER3-DXd with PARP inhibitor olaparib significantly improves treatment responses in NSCLC models, including those harbouring EGFR and KRAS mutations, by overwhelming DNA repair capacity and activating innate immune signalling.
First-in-class drug targets ‘undruggable’ MYC in blood cancers
A first-in-class experimental drug has demonstrated preclinical activity against treatment-resistant blood cancers by exploiting a newly identified vulnerability between MYC and GSPT1, offering a potential route to one of oncology’s most elusive targets.
IL-17 identified as potential immunotherapy biomarker in ovarian cancer
A new study has identified IL-17 as a potential biomarker for immunotherapy response in a small subset of clear cell ovarian cancer cases, offering a possible route to personalised treatment for a disease historically resistant to immune-based therapies.
Exhausted T cells escape tumours to drive lasting cancer immunity
A preclinical study has identified a subset of exhausted, LAG3-expressing T cells capable of migrating out of tumours to establish long-term immune memory, with potential implications for LAG3-targeting cancer immunotherapies.
NUS researchers identify molecular switch driving TNBC treatment resistance
Researchers at the National University of Singapore have identified DP103 as a potential molecular master switch sustaining tumour growth, cancer stem cells and treatment resistance in triple-negative breast cancer, with findings suggesting it could serve as a predictive biomarker for the investigational oral therapy RX-5902.
First multi-responsive foldamer-based gel offers new approach to controlled drug delivery
Researchers at the University of Birmingham have engineered a switchable gel built from synthetic foldamer molecules that responds to light, heat and acid — a platform with potential implications for controlled drug delivery and targeted therapeutic release.
Patient-specific brain tumour chip models vascular drug barriers
A microfluidic chip combining patient-derived glioblastoma cells with their tumour vascular environment could give drug developers a more realistic preclinical model for predicting treatment response – and may help explain why genetically similar patients respond differently to the same therapy.