Category Archives: Blog

SLC7A11 (xCT), the functional subunit of the cystine/glutamate antiporter System xc⁻, plays a central role in tumor redox balance by mediating cystine uptake for glutathione (GSH) synthesis, thereby protecting cancer cells from oxidative stress and ferroptosis. Recent studies published in *Cell* and *Nature* in 2025 further revealed that SLC7A11 can also trigger disulfidptosis under specific metabolic conditions, highlighting a context-dependent vulnerability in cancer cells. These findings position SLC7A11 at the intersection of ferroptosis, metabolic stress, and emerging cell death pathways, making it a promising therapeutic target. This article summarizes the structural features of SLC7A11, its regulatory role in ferroptosis, and recent advances in related therapeutic strategies.

Although February coincided with the Lunar New Year holiday and a seasonal slowdown in market activity, global biopharma business development remained highly active. From RNAi licensing and CAR-T acquisitions to antibody collaborations and AI-driven drug discovery alliances, multiple headline transactions were announced in rapid succession, many reaching multi-billion-dollar values.

In this review, we present an integrated overview of TREM2, covering its structure, expression patterns, biological functions, disease relevance, and the current landscape of TREM2-targeted drug development, with the aim of clarifying its potential as an emerging therapeutic target.

January 2026 global pharma BD and M&A activity highlights sustained capital concentration in innovative targets, AI-driven drug discovery, bispecific antibodies, and peptide therapeutics. Large multinational pharmaceutical companies continue to rapidly reinforce pipelines through acquisitions, licensing, and strategic collaborations, while Chinese innovators steadily enhance their negotiating power on the global stage.

Membrane proteins are critical drug targets, but their hydrophobic and structurally complex nature has limited antibody discovery. Nanodisc technology stabilizes membrane proteins in a lipid-like environment, preserving native conformations and enabling effective antibody immunization and screening.

The thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) has re-emerged as a key target in endocrinology and autoimmune disease research. Therapeutic strategies targeting TSHR have expanded rapidly, encompassing blocking monoclonal antibodies, small-molecule antagonists, and novel approaches to modulate pathogenic autoantibodies. Clinical studies demonstrate encouraging safety and early efficacy of TSHR-directed antibodies in Graves’ disease and thyroid eye disease, while orally available antagonists and inverse agonists offer new options for long-term treatment. Importantly, recent findings extend the role of TSHR beyond hyperthyroidism to immunometabolic regulation and thyroid cancer, positioning TSHR as a multidimensional therapeutic target across immunity, metabolism, and oncology.