Idera’s drug; CRISPR increase risk; Juvenescence grabbed USD 50M; AstraZeneca, Lilly terminates

Idera’s dermatomyositis drug missed primary endpoint in phase 2

Idera’s toll-like receptor (TLR) antagonist, IMO-8400, failed to meet its primary endpoint in a phase 2 trial carried on adults with dermatomyositis. Data has shown that the drug was meant to block TLR 7, 8 and 9 but failed to beat placebo in making a significant change from baseline in the Cutaneous Dermatomyositis Disease Area. Thirty patients took part in the trials for a period of 24 weeks. More than half of the patients were treated with immunosuppressive drugs even then the mean CDASI score was in the severe range.

CRISPR might increase cancer risk in edited cells study shows

CRISPR-Cas9 always have a key safety concern of unintended or Off-target editing as it can lead to cancer and other side effects. As suggested by two new studies CRISPR editing could raise the risk of cancer as the targeted cells could possibly turn into malignant ones. 2 latest studies has shown that CRISPR editing technique triggers a mechanism that protects cells from DNA damage. Cells having this protective system are harder to edit, while cells lacking it are easier to edit. Cells easier to edit could be more susceptible to cancer-causing mutations.

Juvenescence grabbed USD 50 million to fuel anti-aging projects

Juvenescence is a British Isles based startup addressing the anti-aging problem. Company has successfully bagged USD 50 million in series A funding. It will help the company to advance its “core projects” and boost licensing deals and partnerships.

AstraZeneca, Lilly terminates phase 3 Alzheimer’s trials, further hitting BACE prospects    

AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly have terminated two phase 3 trials of BACE inhibitor for Alzheimer’s disease. They took the decision after an independent interim analysis stated that they were possibly going to fail. Lilly picked up lanabecestat from AstraZeneca back in 2014. lanabecestat failed to show any significant results in two trials designed to assess the drug in around 4,000 patients suffering from early or mild Alzheimer’s.