New front against TNF

New York University School of Medicineresearchers have designed a molecule based on the growth factor progranulin that could help treat rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.¹ The team has formed a company, ATreaon, to develop the compound and related analogs.

Previous work has suggested roles for progranulin (PGRN) in cancer,² inflammation,³ host defense,⁴ cartilage development and degeneration⁵ and neurological functions.^6,7 However, using or targeting the molecule has been difficult because its receptors remained unknown...