Dundee-based Ubiquigent Limited and San Francisco’s Alleo Labs Corp have entered a strategic partnership to advance deubiquitinase (DUB)-focused drug discovery using AI.

The collaboration aims to combine Alleo’s AI-based platform with Ubiquigent’s expertise to speed up preclinical programmes targeting neurological diseases.

Under this partnership, Ubiquigent will gain exclusive access to Alleo’s AI software, RubDUB, to find novel DUB-modulating compounds. These compounds are crucial for developing DUB inhibitors, DUB-targeting PROTACs and DUB-Targeting Chimeras (DUBTACs). Meanwhile, Alleo will leverage Ubiquigent’s platforms to boost its in-house precision neuroscience programmes.

Jason Mundin, CEO of Ubiquigent, highlighted the potential of this collaboration: “The potential for the development of novel DUB-targeting therapeutics has never been greater, and this partnership with Alleo presents an exciting opportunity to not only add additional support to our in-house programmes prior to partnering, but also those of the partners we are supporting.”

Alleo, known for its precision medicine for chronic neurological diseases, will also work with Ubiquigent to develop DUB-modulating therapeutics with third-party collaborators.

Alleo’s lead programme, ALO-001, is an oral, brain-penetrant DUB small molecule inhibitor for neuroinflammation in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, currently in preclinical development.

Cardiologists at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have performed a cutting-edge heart valve replacement procedure live to an international audience.

The streamlined transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) highlighted Sheffield’s leading role in cardiovascular research and allowed Christopher Wild, 80, to go home within hours of having his faulty heart valve fixed.

Diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis, Christopher hoped the procedure would add “years to his lifespan”. The procedure was broadcast to over 1,000 cardiologists worldwide and performed by a specialist team at the South Yorkshire Cardiothoracic Centre using the light-touch TAVI pathway.

Severe aortic stenosis, a condition that narrows the heart valve and restricts blood flow, is common among the elderly. Christopher participated in three research projects at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, including the British Heart Foundation’s Protect TAVI trial, the UK Hydra valve registry and the multinational EASY-As trial.  These studies aim to improve care for patients with severe aortic valve disease.

Despite initially having no symptoms, Christopher’s condition put him at high risk of heart failure. He praised the TAVI team, saying, “I can see nothing but benefit in my case. I was a little anxious, but the treatment was first class.”