R548 / Rigel - LARVOL DELTA

Predicting the cognitive impairment with multimodal ophthalmic imaging and artificial neural network for community screening. (PubMed, Br J Ophthalmol) - "This study demonstrates retinal spectral signature alteration, neurodegeneration and angiopathy occur concurrently in cognitive impairment. The combination of multimodal ophthalmic imaging and BPNN can be a useful tool for predicting cognitive impairment with high performance for community screening."

Journal • Alzheimer's Disease • CNS Disorders • Cognitive Disorders • Ophthalmology

Arginine Methylation of the PGC-1α C-Terminus Is Temperature-Dependent. (PubMed, Biochemistry) - "Methylation reactions show that arginine residues R548 and R753 in PGC-1α are methylated at or below 30 °C by PRMT7, while methylation by PRMT1 was detected at these same residues at 30 °C. Computational approaches yielded additional putative methylarginine sites, indicating that since PGC-1α is an intrinsically disordered protein, additional methylated arginine residues have yet to be experimentally verified. We conclude that temperature affects the extent of arginine methylation, with more methylation by PRMT7 occurring below physiological temperature, uncovering an additional control point for PGC-1α."

Journal • PRMT1 • PRMT7

Rigel announces fourth quarter and year end 2011 financial results (Rigel) - In Q4 2011, Rigel initiated P1 clinical studies of R548 with a focus on its potential to treat transplant rejection & other immune system disorders; R548 is expected to moderate the immune system's response to the allograft and improve patient outcomes; Rigel is developing R348 for topical ophthalmic use to treat Sjogren's syndrome; Sjogren's affects nearly four million Americans, & present therapies for this chronic & painful condition are only minimally effective; Rigel plans to initiate P1 clinical studies with R348 by end of 2012

Anticipated P1 trial initiation • Immunology