Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), exemplified by HER2-targeted Enhertu and TROP2-targeted Trodelvy, have demonstrated significant therapeutic potential in cancers. However, a subset of patients remains refractory to ADC treatment.  WuXi AppTec contributed to a research article which demonstrated that excessive cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) can form a fibrotic barrier within a tumor microenvironment, impeding the tissue uptake of …Read More >

Bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) family proteins are key regulators of gene transcription and have been implicated in a wide range of diseases, making these proteins a potential therapeutic target.  Abnormal BET protein activity has been linked to cancer, inflammatory disorders, viral infections, and neurodegenerative conditions. In a recent publication, researchers highlight the discovery of …Read More >

Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death from an infectious disease and is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Inosine-5′-monophosphate dehydrogenase (GuaB) is an enzyme that performs the rate-limiting step in the de novo biosynthesis of guanine, which is critical for growth of bacteria, including MTB. The development of a novel antibiotic that inhibits GuaB could …Read More >

Mutant p53 is one of the most attractive targets for new anti-cancer drugs. Although traditionally regarded as difficult to drug, several new strategies have recently become available for targeting the mutant protein. One of the most promising of these involves the use of low molecular weight compounds that promote refolding and reactivation of mutant p53 …Read More >

Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have emerged as promising therapeutic options for addressing type‐2 diabetes, obesity, and related conditions. However, because of the continued need for injectable administration, many GLP-1 agonists face compliance challenges. To improve the design and production of GLP-1 receptor biased agonists with enhanced druggability, a novel small molecule, designated SAL0112, was …Read More >

Casein kinase 2-interacting protein-1 (CKIP-1) performs a critical negative role in the regulation of bone formation. Accumulated evidence strongly supports CKIP-1 as an attractive therapeutic target in osteoporosis.  As a scaffold protein lacking enzymatic activity, CKIP-1 seems to be an undruggable target, and the development of selective small molecule inhibitors targeting CKIP-1 has proven to …Read More >

Research on cancer immunotherapy has firmly established immune cells as key players in effective cancer treatment. Peptide vaccines directly targeting immune cells have demonstrated immense potential due to their specificity and applicability, but developing peptide vaccines to generate tumor-reactive T cells remains challenging. WuXi AppTec contributed to a review article discussing various elements of effective …Read More >

The heme oxygenase (HO) family comprises the major isozymes HO-1 and HO-2, of which HO-1 is deemed as an emerging target for cancer therapy. HO-1 overexpression is often observed in prostate, renal, colon, lung, breast, and glioma cancers. In a publication in ACS Med Chem Letters, WuXi AppTec scientists report the discovery of five series …Read More >

The safe production of cultivated plants is threatened by various fungal diseases. NIS1 is a secreted effector protein produced by various fungal pathogens. BAK1 is a plant receptor-like kinase that plays a crucial role in recognizing pathogen-associated molecules like NIS1. Understanding the interaction between NIS1 and BAK1 is important for studying plant defense mechanisms against …Read More >