A phase 1b study of the allosteric extracellular FGFR2 inhibitor alofanib in patients with pretreated advanced gastric cancer.

Alofanib is a small-molecule allosteric extracellular FGFR2 inhibitor. We report safety and preliminary efficacy from the first-in-human phase 1b study of alofanib in heavily pretreated patients with advanced gastric cancer. The standard dose-escalation design 3+3 aimed to establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) or recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D).

First-in-human study of anticancer immunotherapy drug candidate mobilan: safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in prostate cancer patients.

Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) controls endogenous immune responses to pathogens and is a promising target for pharmacological stimulation of anti-tumor immunity. Mobilan is an innovative gene therapy agent consisting of a non-replicating bicistronic adenovirus directing constitutive expression of human Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) and the secreted flagellin-based TLR5 agonist, 502s. In mice, Mobilan injection into prostate tumors resulted in autocrine TLR5 signaling, immune system activation, and suppression of tumor growth and metastasis.

Genotoxicity of two new carbazole derivatives with antifungal activity.

The class of carbazoles includes compounds with high biological activities and broad spectra of action. PLX01107 and PLX01008 are xenomycins, a new subclass of antimicrobial carbazole derivatives demonstrating strong antifungal activity in vitro. We performed three tests, a bacterial reverse mutation assay (Ames test), in vitro cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay, and chromosome aberration test in mouse bone marrow cells, to investigate the possible genotoxicity of these compounds.

Add-on clinical effects of selective antagonist of 5HT6 receptors AVN-211 (CD-008-0173) in patients with schizophrenia stabilized on antipsychotic treatment: pilot study.

Unlabelled: The serotoninergic system as a target for add-on treatment seems to be a promising approach in patients with schizophrenia.

Objective: To clarify if selective 5HT-6 antagonist AVN-211 (CD-008-0173) adds clinical and cognitive effects to stable antipsychotic treatment.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, add-on, 4r-week trial in 47 schizophrenia patients (21 patients receiving study drug and 26 receiving placebo) who were stabilized on antipsychotic medication was performed.

Novel aryl and heteroaryl substituted N-[3-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)propyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazole-5-carboxamides as selective GSK-3 inhibitors.

Synthesis, biological evaluation, and SAR dependencies for a series of novel aryl and heteroaryl substituted N-[3-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)propyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazole-5-carboxamide inhibitors of GSK-3beta kinase are described. The inhibitory activity of the synthesized compounds is highly dependent on the character of substituents in the phenyl ring and the nature of terminal heterocyclic fragment of the core molecular scaffold. The most potent compounds from this series contain 3,4-di-methyl or 2-methoxy substituents within the phenyl ring and 3-pyridine fragment connected to the 1,2,4-oxadiazole heterocycle.

Rodent lymphocytes express functionally active glutamate receptors.

RT-PCR demonstrated that ionotropic (iGluR NR1) and metabotropic (mGluR Group III) glutamate receptors are expressed in rodent lymphocytes. Flow cytometry showed that activation of iGluR NR1 by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) increased intracellular free calcium and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and activated caspase-3. The latter effect was attenuated by the NMDA antagonist, 5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine (MK-801), by the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine and by cyclosporin A.