Volume 19 Issue 5, May 2020

Macrophage-focused immuno-oncology programmes were in the doldrums just a year ago, but are now back on the move in the wake of Gilead Sciences’ US$4.9 billion acquisition of Forty Seven.

Naturally occurring cationic host defence peptides, also known as antimicrobial peptides, can control infections by their direct microbicidal properties and by modulating the host’s immune responses. In addition, certain cationic host defence peptides can resolve harmful inflammation. Here, Mookherjee et al. assess the emerging potential to therapeutically harness these peptides to treat infectious diseases, chronic inflammatory disorders and wound healing, highlighting current preclinical studies and clinical trials.

Existing antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents for the prevention and treatment of thrombosis are associated with bleeding risk. Here, Mackman and colleagues provide an overview of haemostasis and thrombosis and assess the advantages and limitations of existing antithrombotics. The emerging antithrombotic targets and agents in development as well as the associated challenges are discussed.

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly being applied in drug discovery. This article presents the views of a group of international experts on the ‘grand challenges’ in small-molecule drug discovery with AI, including obtaining appropriate data sets, generating new hypotheses, optimizing in a multi-objective manner, reducing cycle times and changing the research culture.