BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center found MYC gene activation initiates prostate cancer, initially attracting immune cells but later evading them, suggesting MYC as a therapeutic target.

Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine received $2.8 million from NHLBI/NIH for ARDS research. Professors Omid Veiseh and Ravi Kiran Ghanta are developing a cell therapy platform using engineered RPE cells to locally produce cytokines, aiming to reduce inflammation and lung damage in ARDS patients.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center found MYC gene activation initiates and progresses prostate cancer, initially attracting immune cells but later hiding the tumor. This discovery could lead to new therapeutic targets.

Contentment linked to lower risk of heart attack, stroke, clogged arteries, and heart failure, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Researchers at SFU’s Verheyen Lab and Baylor College of Medicine identified a gene, Cdk8/CDK19, that may reverse Parkinson’s symptoms by improving mitochondrial function. This discovery, made through fruit fly studies, marks the first connection between the gene and Parkinson’s, offering potential for drug repurposing and new treatments.

GLP-1 meds like Ozempic reduce risk of cirrhosis and death in diabetes patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), according to a study in JAMA Internal Medicine. Semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) was particularly effective if taken early in MASLD progression. GLP-1s work by reducing body weight, blood sugar, and inflammation, potentially reversing fatty liver disease.

Viridian Therapeutics reports positive phase 3 THRIVE trial data for veligrotug in active thyroid eye disease, showing significant improvements across key endpoints at 15 weeks. Veligrotug, an anti-IGF-1R antibody, demonstrated a 70% proptosis responder rate and 67% overall responder rate, compared to 5% with placebo. The drug was well-tolerated with a low discontinuation rate and no serious AEs reported. THRIVE-2 for chronic TED is ongoing, with BLA submission planned for 2025.

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine identified two B cell abnormalities in triple negative breast cancer patients, which could serve as blood biomarkers for predicting response to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. TiBA-0 patients showed no B cell changes, while TiBA-1 and TiBA-2 exhibited reduced and immature B cells, respectively, leading to poorer treatment responses. These systemic immune changes can be detected via a blood draw, potentially aiding in patient stratification for tailored treatments.

Researchers identified hundreds of proteins as promising targets for existing or new cancer drugs using proteogenomic data from over 1,000 tumors across 10 cancer types, suggesting a larger targetable space than currently pursued.

Veligrotug, an anti-IGF-1R antibody, showed positive results in a phase 3 trial for active thyroid eye disease (TED), meeting primary and secondary endpoints. The therapy demonstrated substantial improvements in proptosis, clinical activity score, and diplopia after five infusions, with a rapid onset of action and generally well-tolerated side effects. Viridian Therapeutics plans to submit a biologics license application for veligrotug by the second half of 2025.