{"title":"Emerging therapeutics targeting tumor-associated macrophages for the treatment of solid organ cancers.","authors":"Dandan Li, Udo Rudloff","doi":"10.1080/14728214.2025.2504376","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14728214.2025.2504376","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Over the last decade, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) like PD-1/PD-L1 or CTLA-4, which reinvigorate T cells for tumor control have become standard-of-care treatment options. In response to the increasingly recognized mechanisms of resistance to T cell activation in immunologically cold tumors, immuno-oncology drug development has started to shift beyond T cell approaches. These include tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), a major pro-tumor immune cell population in the tumor microenvironment known to silence immune responses.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>Here we outline anti-TAM therapies in current development, either as monotherapy or in combination with other treatment modalities. We describe emerging drugs targeting TAMs under investigation in phase II and III testing with a focus on their distinguishing mechanism of action which include (1) reprogramming of TAMs toward anti-tumor function and immune surveillance, (2) blockade of recruitment, and (3) reduction and ablation of TAMs.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Several new immuno-oncology agents are under investigation to harness anti-tumor functions of TAMs. While robust anti-tumor efficacy of anti-TAM therapies across advanced solid organ cancers remains elusive to-date, TAM reprogramming therapies have yielded benefits in select cancers. The inherent heterogeneity of the diverse TAM population will require enhanced investments into biomarker-driven approaches to fully leverage its therapeutic potential.</p>","PeriodicalId":12292,"journal":{"name":"Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs","volume":" ","pages":"109-147"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12232465/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143974707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Madia Lozupone, Vittorio Dibello, Antonio Daniele, Francesco Panza
{"title":"An update on emerging anti-amyloid-β monoclonal antibodies for treating Alzheimer's disease: the role of apolipoprotein E.","authors":"Madia Lozupone, Vittorio Dibello, Antonio Daniele, Francesco Panza","doi":"10.1080/14728214.2025.2481847","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14728214.2025.2481847","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12292,"journal":{"name":"Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs","volume":" ","pages":"77-81"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143669134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Diego Gómez-Puerto, Carlo M Cicala, Claudia Valverde, César Serrano
{"title":"Emerging treatments for sarcoma: from 2024 onward.","authors":"Diego Gómez-Puerto, Carlo M Cicala, Claudia Valverde, César Serrano","doi":"10.1080/14728214.2025.2460525","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14728214.2025.2460525","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Sarcomas are a rare and diverse group of mesenchymal-origin solid tumors, constituting only 1% of adult malignancies and classified into soft tissue and bone sarcomas. For localized diseases, surgery and radiotherapy remain the cornerstone treatments. However, systemic options for advanced stages are limited, with an overall survival of approximately 20 months. There is an urgent need to refine clinical trial designs and evaluate novel therapies to improve patient outcomes.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This review summarizes recent advancements in sarcoma clinical trials, highlighting promising therapies that may reshape treatment paradigms. It also examines insights from comprehensive genomic profiling studies, which are paving the way for next-generation therapeutic approaches.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>The heterogeneity and rarity of sarcomas present substantial challenges to the development and regulatory approval of effective therapies. Recent progress in the field has introduced innovative approaches, including novel chemotherapeutic agents, targeted therapies, and immunotherapeutics. However, despite these advancements, significant hurdles persist. While these strategies have demonstrated some success, the overall improvements in survival have often been modest, irrespective of the therapeutic modality. This underscores critical concerns regarding the true cost-benefit balance and the potential for adverse effects, particularly when evaluated over extended follow-up periods.</p>","PeriodicalId":12292,"journal":{"name":"Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs","volume":" ","pages":"1-18"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143058569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mohammad Hassan Hodroj, Joseph Klim, Nicole Charbel, Ali Taher
{"title":"Mitapivat: a step forward across different hemolytic diseases.","authors":"Mohammad Hassan Hodroj, Joseph Klim, Nicole Charbel, Ali Taher","doi":"10.1080/14728214.2025.2458063","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14728214.2025.2458063","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12292,"journal":{"name":"Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs","volume":" ","pages":"1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143064867","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"FcRn inhibitors in the context of myasthenia gravis.","authors":"Deepak Menon, Vinaya Bhandari","doi":"10.1080/14728214.2025.2458061","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14728214.2025.2458061","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12292,"journal":{"name":"Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs","volume":" ","pages":"1-4"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143052104","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Muscarinic M1 and M4 agents as treatments for schizophrenia: what do they do and who do they do it for?","authors":"Philip D Harvey","doi":"10.1080/14728214.2025.2458053","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14728214.2025.2458053","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12292,"journal":{"name":"Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs","volume":" ","pages":"1-5"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143002924","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kevin Mok, Olivia Chen, Johnny Yau, Landon L Chan, Stephen L Chan
{"title":"Systemic therapy for child-pugh B patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.","authors":"Kevin Mok, Olivia Chen, Johnny Yau, Landon L Chan, Stephen L Chan","doi":"10.1080/14728214.2025.2456774","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14728214.2025.2456774","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12292,"journal":{"name":"Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143002928","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kyle Valentino, Kayla M Teopiz, Sabrina Wong, Melanie C Zhang, Gia Han Le, Hayun Choi, Hana Ballum, Christine Dri, William Cheung, Roger S McIntyre
{"title":"Seltorexant for major depressive disorder.","authors":"Kyle Valentino, Kayla M Teopiz, Sabrina Wong, Melanie C Zhang, Gia Han Le, Hayun Choi, Hana Ballum, Christine Dri, William Cheung, Roger S McIntyre","doi":"10.1080/14728214.2025.2452514","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14728214.2025.2452514","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Preclinical and clinical pharmacologic evidence indicates that orexin systems are relevant to sleep-wake cycle regulation and dimensions of reward and cognition, providing the basis for hypothesizing that they may be effective as therapeutics in mental disorders. Due to the limited efficacy and tolerability profiles of existing treatments for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), investigational compounds in novel treatment classes are needed; seltorexant, an orexin receptor antagonist, is a potential new treatment currently under investigation.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>Mechanisms implicated in MDD, including reward and sleep, are first overviewed. Then, the safety, tolerability, and efficacy profiles of seltorexant and the wider context of orexin receptor antagonism for depression are discussed in focus. Preclinical and clinical data are also discussed. PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were systematically searched from inception to 10 October 2024, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Early clinical evidence suggests that seltorexant is effective in treating MDD, both in individuals diagnosed with insomnia and those not, although greater antidepressant effects are observed in individuals with severe sleep disturbance. Results from large phase III clinical trials are needed to confirm efficacy and safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":12292,"journal":{"name":"Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142947157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Davide Politano, Davide Tonduti, Roberta Battini, Elisa Fazzi, Simona Orcesi
{"title":"Exploring emerging JAK inhibitors in the treatment of Aicardi-Goutières syndrome.","authors":"Davide Politano, Davide Tonduti, Roberta Battini, Elisa Fazzi, Simona Orcesi","doi":"10.1080/14728214.2024.2445508","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14728214.2024.2445508","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS) is a genetically heterogeneous monogenic autoinflammatory disorder classified as an 'interferonopathy'. Nine genes have been implicated in AGS, encoding proteins involved in nucleic acid clearance, repair, sensing, or histone pre-mRNA processing. Dysregulation in these pathways leads to excessive type I interferon production, the primary driver of the disease. AGS typically presents with early-life neurological regression, followed by stabilization with varying degrees of neurological impairment and common extra-neurological features, such as chilblains. Advances in understanding AGS pathogenesis have enabled the development of new therapies, with JAK inhibitors emerging as the most studied option for reducing interferon-mediated effects.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This review discusses the clinical features, genetic basis, and molecular pathways of AGS while tracing the evolution of its therapeutic strategies. Particular emphasis is placed on JAK inhibitors, which target proteins activated by type I interferons, providing a novel direction in treatment.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Inhibitors effectively reduce extra-neurological symptoms in AGS, though their impact on neurological outcomes remains unclear. The unknown natural history of AGS limits treatment evaluation. Despite growing insights, key aspects of pathogenesis and treatment optimization - including timing, administration, and long-term effects - remain unresolved, highlighting the need for further research.</p>","PeriodicalId":12292,"journal":{"name":"Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs","volume":" ","pages":"1-19"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142863686","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}