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Over the past decade, several RNA-based therapies have gained FDA approval. Additional noncoding RNA (ncRNA)-based therapeutic approaches — targeting microRNAs and long ncRNAs — are now also gaining interest. Here, Calin and co-authors assess the hurdles facing the clinical translation of ncRNA-based therapeutics and highlight promising emerging solutions to address these issues.
PI3K signalling is one of the most frequently aberrantly activated pathways in cancer. However, the development of therapeutic PI3K pathway inhibitors has faced challenges including poor drug tolerance and drug resistance. Here, Vanhaesebroeck et al. review efforts to understand and therapeutically exploit the biology of PI3Kα and PI3Kδ — the key targets of currently approved PI3K inhibitors, highlighting lessons learned and future opportunities.
Zebrafish are useful model organisms for drug discovery, particularly in screening, disease modelling and toxicity assays. Here, Patton, Zon and Langenau discuss key recent successes in which zebrafish models have had key roles. Advances in gene modification technologies have enabled individual mutations to be recapitulated in zebrafish, leading to individualized treatments. Zebrafish xenografts as cancer models could also lead to rapid, personalized platforms for drug discovery.
Physical activity has demonstrated positive effects in preventing and ameliorating a broad range of diseases, particularly central nervous system disorders. Accordingly, strategies to therapeutically mimic the effects of exercise are gaining interest. Here, Gubert and Hannan focus on the molecular and cellular effects of physical activity in the central nervous system, assessing opportunities for the development of therapeutic exercise mimetics.