April 5, 2024 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Nykode’s ‘inverse vaccine’ found to prevent MS in mouse model An inverse vaccine developed by Nykode Therapeutics to boost immune system tolerance to a specific protein target was able to prevent the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) in a mouse model of the disease. The vaccine, known as a Vaccibody, is designed to teach the immune system to…
June 13, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS DDX39B seen as ‘guardian’ in autoimmune attacks that drive MS The protein DDX39B is a master regulator of immune tolerance, or the immune system’s ability to distinguish self from potentially harmful nonself molecules, and helps to control the development of immune cells that are key for this process, a new study shows. Findings suggest that activating DDX39B with small molecules…
May 23, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD US patent secured for experimental LPX-TI641 for autoimmune diseases LAPIX Therapeutics has secured a new U.S. patent covering the use of its experimental oral therapy LPX-TI641 as a means to restore immune tolerance in people with autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office with the number 11,648,225, the patent…
July 25, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Heart Medication Digoxin Helps With Remyelination in Early Study Digoxin, an approved medication for certain heart conditions, promoted the repair of myelinĀ ā the protective sheath around nerve fibers that is progressively lost in multiple sclerosis ā in mouse models of the disease, a study reports. Combining digoxin with an experimental immune-modulating therapy was more effective at promoting myelin…
February 4, 2022 Columns by Ed Tobias Taking Another Look at Vitamin D, Immune Tolerance, and MS I’ve been popping vitamin D pills for years ā decades, really. I never really understood why, I just knew that many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are vitamin D-deficient. A recent study has cast some new light on why I should continue. It all seems to comes down to…
February 3, 2022 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD KAT7 Enzyme Spotted as Key to Training Immune System’s T-cells KAT7, an enzyme known to regulate gene activity, is essential for the process of teaching immune T-cells to correctly identify the bodyās molecules and cells as āselfā ā a process that goes awry in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases. This enzyme is also critical for training T-cells…
January 26, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS How Vitamin D Modulates Immune System Activity Detailed in Study Vitamin D can influence the immune system’s tolerance to certain proteins by changing how DNA is packaged in specific immune cells called dendritic cells, according to a new study. Its findings could have implications for treating diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) that are characterized by the immune system attacking…
January 7, 2022 News by Yedida Y Bogachkov PhD Phase 1 Trial of ANK-700 for RRMS Advancing to Multiple Doses A Phase 1 clinical trial investigating the safety and tolerability ofĀ Anokion‘s ANK-700 in people withĀ relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) has begun enrolling patients for its multiple ascending dose part. This opening of the study’s second part follows positive safety signs in patients given the one of two doses of…
March 25, 2021 News by Diana Campelo Delgado Dosing Begins in Trial of Anokion’s ANK-700 for RRMS A Phase 1 clinical trial investigating ANK-700 as a means to restore immune tolerance to myelin in people multiple sclerosis (MS) has begun dosing participants. Currently recruiting at a single site in Tennessee, the trial (NCT04602390) is expected to enroll up to 40 patients with relapsing-remitting…
March 4, 2021 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Antigen-loaded Red Blood Cells Help Promote Immune Tolerance in Mice Red blood cells carrying specific antigen proteins on the cell surface can be used to disarm overactive T-cells by promoting immune tolerance, a study in mice found. The findings may have important implications for the treatment of autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis. The study, āPersistent antigen…
November 6, 2020 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Small, Myelin-rich Vesicles May Help Control Immune Response in MS, Animal Study Shows Extracellular vesicles (EVs), tiny sacs released from myelin-producing cells called oligodendrocytes, may help dampen the immune systemās attack against myelin, whose loss is the hallmark of multiple sclerosis (MS), a new mouse study shows. The findings suggest that oligodendrocytes-released EVs could work as an universal immunotherapy for MS…
September 25, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Anokion Planning Launch of Phase 1 Trial of Investigational MS Therapy ANK-700 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted an investigational new drug application (IND) for ANK-700, a treatment candidate for multiple sclerosis (MS) that is being developed by the Swiss company Anokion. With this approval, Anokion can enter clinical testing and is planning to…
February 15, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Tiny RNA miR-142 Key in Preventing Autoimmunity, Study Reports A tiny molecule known as microRNA-142 plays a key role in the prevention of autoimmune responses through immune cells called regulatory T-cells (Tregs), according to a new study of Ā mice. These findings could enable new strategies to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases, the scientists said. The…
September 25, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS Gene Therapy Shows Good Results in Mice, but Human Trials Remain Distant Researchers have taken the first steps towards the development of a gene therapy for multiple sclerosis āĀ a treatment that boosted anti-inflammatory immune processes and reversed severe paralysis in mouse models of the disease. The University of Florida Health research team said it was optimistic that the therapy can work…
August 25, 2017 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Topas and Lily Are Partnering to Develop Therapies for Autoimmune Disorders Topas Therapeutics and Eli Lilly and Company are teaming up to develop compounds that could be used to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and diabetes. The compounds, based on a Topas technology platform, will be aimed at restoring immune tolerance. Immune tolerance refers to the immune system being unresponsive to certain antigens ā for instance, the bodyās own proteins. Without immune tolerance, the body can generate an excessive immune response that prompts the immune system to attack healthy organs or tissue ā a process called autoimmunity Under the multiyear agreement, Topas will receive research and development funding. It will also receive financial rewards from the success of any drug developed under the collaboration. The agreement will give Lilly the option to license all therapies created under the collaboration, and to develop them further. "We are excited to be working with Lilly to generate drug candidates using our proprietary technology," Timm Jessen, the CEO of Topas Therapeutics, said in a press release. "We expect this work to support the value of our approach" of triggering immune tolerance against antigens, he said. The fact that an important pharmaceutical company like Lilly is interested "in our technology, we believe, supports the strong commercial potential of our work." Topas develops compounds against autoimmune reactions ā that is, situations in which the immune system attacks healthy parts of the body. It is already developing treatments for multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, and other autoimmune disorders. While the majority of such therapies try to shut down the immune system, Topasā approach is to trigger antigen-specific immune tolerance. This allows the body to regain control over an excessive immune response, while sparing the body's normal immunity. Topas links its compounds to tiny nanoparticles that liver sinusoidal endothelial cells can absorb. The liver cells are the first place where immune T-cells can learn what the body should not fight against. In studies of mice with multiple sclerosis, a single injection of nanoparticles containing peptides found in neurons triggered a potent protective effect, improving the disease's symptoms and blocking its progression. Peptides are components of proteins. "Lilly is committed to be an innovation leader in immunology," said Dr. Thomas F. Bumol, senior vice president of biotechnology and immunology research at Lilly. "Topas has a very novel approach to immune tolerance induction, which we would like to see successfully applied to certain disease-relevant antigens. We look forward to working together with Topas on their unique platform."
June 16, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Tiny Particles Carrying Myelin Antigens Seen to Restore Immune Tolerance in MS Mice Model Researchers managed to change the immune system ā replacing inflammation with immune tolerance ā in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS) using so-called quantum dots, orĀ nano-sized particles carryingĀ pieces of myelin. Experiments with this advanced technological solution may helpĀ researchers design MS therapies that are based on promoting regulatory T-cells rather…
January 6, 2017 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Fusion Protein, CGEN-15001, Shows Ability to Restore Immune Balance in Mice with MS Compugen has reported new and promising results from studies onĀ animal models of multiple sclerosis (MS) that supportĀ itsĀ lead drug candidate, CGEN-15001, as a potentialĀ treatment for a variety of autoimmune diseases, including MS. Specifically, CGEN-15001 was shown to restore immune tolerance and balance in a durable and sustained manner in treated…