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  • Pak announce squad for historic AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers

    Pak announce squad for historic AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers

    Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has announced the final squad for the country’s first-ever appearance in the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, marking a historic milestone for the sport in Pakistan.

    The training camp is currently underway at the Liaquat Gymnasium, Jinnah Sports Complex in Islamabad, where Head Coach Sakhawat Ali is leading preparations. The camp aims to sharpen skills and tactics as the squad gears up for its maiden international futsal challenge.

    Pakistan has been placed in Group D alongside Iraq, Chinese Taipei, and host nation Saudi Arabia. The team will open its campaign against Iraq on September 20, face Saudi Arabia on September 22, and wrap up the group stage against Chinese Taipei on September 24. All fixtures will take place in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

    The final squad includes Muhammad Zaid and Muhammad Tahir as goalkeepers, with Muhammad Humza Khan, Hamza Nusrat, Zohair Altaf, and Asif Ahmad forming the defensive line. On the wings, Hassaan Zafar, Abdul Hannan, Yousaf Ahmad, Shams Taj, Moeez Sajjad, Muhammad Bin Masud, and Ariz Mahmood have been selected. Leading the attack are strikers Muhammad Adan, Muhammad Ali Riaz Khan, and Zaid Ullah Khan.

    In a press release, the federation highlighted the significance of this debut, describing it as “a proud moment for Pakistan football” as the team steps onto the international futsal stage for the first time.

    With futsal gaining popularity across the country, the national squad’s participation in the Asian Cup Qualifiers is expected to inspire a new generation of players and fans.

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  • Govt moves to ease electricity bills for flood-hit citizens

    Govt moves to ease electricity bills for flood-hit citizens

    Residents wade through a flooded road, following monsoon rains and rising water levels in Qadirabad village near the Chenab River in Punjab, August 28, 2025. — Reuters
    • GST, FC surcharge and fixed charges under review.
    • Rana Tanveer says provinces to waive land revenue too.
    • Up to 18% crop losses reported in Gujranwala division.

    ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to provide relief in electricity bills for the people in flood-affected areas, with multiple tax waivers under consideration. 

    Federal Minister for Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, speaking to Geo News, said that taxes on the electricity bills of flood-hit households would be waived immediately. He added that while the federal government would provide relief on electricity charges, the provincial governments would take steps to waive land revenue.

    He noted that the authorities would also take notice of inflated bills issued in flood-affected areas, explaining that many bills had already been printed before the devastation. The minister emphasised that every possible step would be taken to ease the burden on affected citizens.

    Rana Tanveer said that once surveys of flood-affected regions are completed, the government will announce a farmers’ package. He explained that the survey is expected to be finished by the middle of this month and that preliminary data on crop losses has already been compiled.

    According to the minister, between 1% and 3% of every crop has been damaged by the floods, with the Gujranwala division suffering the most severe blow, up to 18% of crops destroyed. He added that rice fields had taken the heaviest damage overall.

    Sources said the proposals include abolition of the general sales tax, the Financing Cost (FC) surcharge and fixed charges on electricity bills. The government is also weighing the removal of sales tax and excise duty on fuel price adjustment, alongside eliminating income tax, additional and surplus taxes, and retailer sales tax from the bills.

    The proposal comes as the country reels from its second catastrophic monsoon flooding in three years.

    Since late June, over 900 people have died, more than 1,400 villages have been inundated in Punjab, and over one million residents have been displaced, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).


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  • AI in T-Cell Research Transforms Immunotherapy Design

    AI in T-Cell Research Transforms Immunotherapy Design

    Researchers have harnessed the power of artificial intelligence to tackle one of the most complex challenges in immunology: predicting how T cells recognize and respond to specific peptide antigens. Using AlphaFold 3 (AF3), a AI/ML model, designed for protein structure prediction, the team demonstrated a novel approach to model T cell receptor–peptide/major histocompatibility complex (TCR-pMHC) interactions with growing accuracy.

    T cells play a dual role in human health, acting as defenders by eliminating tumors and infected cells while sometimes contributing to disease by targeting the body’s own tissues. At the heart of this balance lies TCR-pMHC recognition, a critical process that determines whether T cells mount a protective response or trigger harmful autoimmunity. Until now, predictive models of TCR specificity have remained limited in accuracy and scope.

    “Inspired by recent advances in AI-based structural biology, we sought to evaluate whether AlphaFold could be adapted to predict how T cells recognize epitopes,” said Dr. Chongming Jiang, Principal Investigator of the study. “Our findings indicate that AlphaFold can distinguish valid epitopes from invalid ones, moving us closer to reliable, high-throughput prediction of T cell responses.”

    The research team reports that AlphaFold’s computational modeling enables in silico identification of immunogenic epitopes that could serve as vaccine targets. Beyond prevention, the ability to design higher-affinity and more specific T cells has the potential to enhance the safety and efficacy of T cell-based therapies for cancer, infectious diseases, and autoimmune conditions.

    “An accurate prediction model of TCR-pMHC interactions could transform the development of immunotherapies and vaccines,” added Dr. Xiling Shen, Chief Scientific Officer at the Terasaki Institute. “This represents a crucial step toward precision medicine approaches that harness the immune system to combat disease.”

    While the researchers acknowledge that further refinement and validation are required before widespread clinical application, the results highlight the promise of deep learning–based structural modeling as a pathway for the generalizable prediction of TCR-pMHC interactions.

    This breakthrough underscores the potential of AI-driven approaches to accelerate drug discovery and immunotherapy design, paving the way for more effective and safer treatments.

    Reference: Chao C chi, Chiu Y, Yeung L, Yee C, Jiang C, Shen X. AI/ML-empowered approaches for predicting T cell-mediated immunity and beyond. Front Immunol. 2025. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1651533

    This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source. Our press release publishing policy can be accessed here.

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  • The Strad – Sonowood – the better alternative to the overexploitation of tropical wood

    The Strad – Sonowood – the better alternative to the overexploitation of tropical wood

    A violin maker knows how important it is to choose the right wood to ensure the functional and tonal quality of an instrument. Traditionally, ebony is used for fingerboards and fittings such as tailpieces, chin rests or pegs. However, ebony of sufficient quality has become scarce – especially for larger instrument components. 

    Just get on board: domestic wood from Swiss forestry instead of tropical wood from overexploitation

    Overexploitation of tropical rainforests has made high-quality ebony rare. To protect the remaining forests, international import and trade restrictions (like CITES) and regulations (Lacey Act, EUDR) are increasing.

    That is why Swiss Wood Solutions AG, with its Sonowood brand, has joined the ‘Just get on board’ campaign, which calls for the protection of the last remaining tropical forests and raises awareness among musicians and luthiers for tropical wood alternatives from sustainable, local sources.

    Sonowood – the better alternative

    Sonowood has been available for several years as an ebony alternative made from domestic wood of consistently high quality. Selected spruce, beech or maple woods are densified in a specially developed and patent-pending thermohydromechanical process through the finely tuned interaction of pressure, heat, wood moisture and time.

    This gives the wood the properties of ebony – and in some cases even surpasses it in density, sound velocity and hardness. At the same time, Sonowood is not a composite: it consists of 100 per cent wood. No adhesives, resins or other plastic components are used.

    Renowned violin makers such as Boris Haug from Zurich, Stefano Gibertoni and Valerio Nalin from Milan, and Mira Gruszow and Gideon Baumblatt from Berlin therefore use Sonowood for their instruments and regularly win prizes with their instruments equipped with Sonowood fittings: Most recently in autumn 2024, both Boris Haug and the Gibertoni/Nalin duo received an award from the Violin Society of America.

    As Boris Haug puts it: ‘No one can justify the clearance of tropical rainforests. We believed in Sonowood right from the outset and were happy to support the pioneering work involved. It is now used in our workshop on a daily basis. Sonowood’s material qualities allow me more leeway when it comes to shaping the sound.’ 

    Violin Original

    Now new in the web shop: Accessories made from Sonowood

    Following the takeover of the fittings business from our previous partner Wilhelm Geigenbau in May, the new Sonowood web shop has been offering a wide range of accessories for violins, violas, cellos and double basses made from Sonowood for a few weeks now.

    The range includes fingerboards, tailpieces in various models, lengths and designs, and chin rests. Other products such as pegs and end buttons are currently in development. Those who value the classic look of ebony will also find what they are looking for: Sonowood Black – made from impregnated beech wood – has the characteristic black colour of ebony and has recently become available also for cello fingerboards.

    Explore our web shop here: https://shop.sonowood.swisswoodsolutions.ch

     

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  • Pharmacokinetic and safety profiles of MIT-001, a novel ferroptosis in

    Pharmacokinetic and safety profiles of MIT-001, a novel ferroptosis in

    Introduction

    Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are chemically reactive molecules that arise from the incomplete reduction of oxygen.1 ROS are generated from extracellular sources, such as NADPH oxidases (NOXs), or from the mitochondrial respiratory chain.2 At controlled levels, ROS function as signaling molecules that regulate cellular pathways.2 However, an imbalance between ROS production and antioxidant defenses leads to elevated ROS levels, causing oxidative injury that damages lipids, proteins, and DNA, ultimately resulting in cell death.3

    Oxidative injury caused by ROS induces the release of intracellular high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a pro-inflammatory mediator of necrosis.4 ROS also activate the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), a transcription factor that upregulates pro-inflammatory molecules, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and NOX2.2 Abnormally elevated ROS production during chemotherapy or radiotherapy triggers pro-inflammatory signaling cascades, further exacerbates oxidative stress, and leads to mucosal epithelial cell damage accompanied by necrotic ulcerative lesions, as observed in oral mucositis (OM).5

    MIT-001, also known as NecroX-7 or LC28-0126, is a novel small-molecule inhibitor of ferroptosis and necrosis that functions as a mitochondria-targeted ROS scavenger, with therapeutic potential for treating oxidative stress- or ferroptosis-related diseases (Figure 1).6 By inhibiting the expression of HMGB-1 and suppressing NF-κB activity, MIT-001 has demonstrated the potential to reduce inflammation and prevent necrotic cell death in nonclinical studies.7–9 It decreases the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, such as monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, TNF-α, and interleukin-1β, and inhibits NOX activity by modulating the Ncf1 and Rac2 genes, which encode NOX activators.10,11

    Figure 1 Chemical structure of MIT-001.

    OM is a frequent complication of cancer treatment, resulting from excessive ROS production in cells damaged during chemotherapy or radiotherapy.5,12–15 MIT-001 is expected to prevent or mitigate the severity of OM by suppressing inflammation associated with elevated ROS levels.7 Phase 2 clinical trials (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04651634, NCT05493800) are currently underway to evaluate the efficacy of MIT-001 in preventing and treating OM. These trials target patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy and patients with lymphoma or multiple myeloma receiving conditioning chemotherapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In addition to its potential in treating OM, MIT-001 is anticipated to benefit other inflammatory conditions, such as graft-versus-host disease.9

    MIT-001 was originally developed as an intravenous (IV) formulation. In previous studies, the IV formulation of MIT-001 was well tolerated, with no dose-limiting toxicities, and systemic exposure increased proportionally across a single-dose range of 0.3–200 mg and a multiple-dose range of 3–30 mg.16,17 The IV formulation showed a multi-compartmental disposition, with a mean terminal elimination half-life (t1/2) of 27.3 to 45.4 h. With less than 5% of unchanged MIT-001 excreted in the urine, hepatic metabolism is presumed to be its primary elimination route (Supplementary Table 1). 16,17 During multiple dosing, a mean accumulation ratio (Rac) of 2.58 to 2.79 was reported.17

    To enhance the ease of self-administration for patients and improve convenience for long-term management, a novel subcutaneous (SC) formulation of MIT-001 is currently under development. Compared to IV administration, SC delivery is expected to result in slower absorption, potentially leading to a more stable systemic exposure profile. While the IV formulation demonstrated a favorable systemic safety profile, SC administration presents new considerations, such as local injection site reactions and altered bioavailability, which have not been characterized. Therefore, understanding the pharmacokinetic (PK) and safety profiles of the SC formulation is essential to support appropriate dose selection and inform further formulation development for long-term and outpatient use.

    This study aimed to evaluate the PK and safety profiles of MIT-001 after SC administration in healthy participants.

    Materials and Methods

    The study protocol was approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Seoul National University Hospital (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05389696) in Korea. The study was conducted in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki and the Korean Good Clinical Practice guidelines. Written informed consent forms were obtained from all participants prior to screening.

    Study Population

    Healthy Korean participants aged 19–45 years with a body mass index (BMI) between 18.0 and 27.0 kg/m2 were recruited. Participants were screened based on their medical history, physical examination, 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs), vital signs (blood pressure, pulse rate, and body temperature), and clinical laboratory tests (hematology, blood chemistry, coagulation, urinalysis, and serology). Exclusion criteria included any medical history or condition likely to affect PKs, including clinically significant hepatic or renal disease. Participants were also excluded if they had a history of drug abuse, positive urine drug screening result, smoking, or regular alcohol consumption, or recent use of prescription drugs within 2 weeks or herbal medicines within 2 weeks, or over-the-counter drugs or vitamin supplements within 1 week prior to the first administration of the investigational product (IP).

    Study Design

    A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study was conducted in two parts: single ascending dose (SAD) and multiple ascending dose (MAD) studies (Figure 2). In the SAD study, participants received a single SC dose of MIT-001 at 10 mg, 20 mg, or 40 mg. Participants in the 40 mg cohort also received a single IV dose of MIT-001 40 mg in a crossover manner after a 14-day washout period. In the MAD study, participants received SC doses of MIT-001 at 20 mg or 40 mg once daily for seven consecutive days. Each cohort included eight participants randomized in a 3:1 ratio to receive either MIT-001 or placebo. Dose escalation decisions were based on safety and tolerability data from the previous dose levels.

    Figure 2 Study design.

    Abbreviation: SC, subcutaneous; IV, intravenous; HOS, hospitalization; DIS, discharge; OPV, outpatient visit; PSV, post-study visit.

    In the SAD study, blood samples for PK analysis were collected at pre-dose and 0.5, 1, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, 96, and 144 h post-dose for the 10 mg and 20 mg cohorts. For the 40 mg cohort, blood samples were collected at the same time points after SC administration, and at pre-dose and 0.17 (10 min), 0.33 (20 min), 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, 96, and 144 h after IV administration (0.5h infusion duration). In the MAD study, blood samples were collected at pre-dose and 0.5, 1, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, and 24 h after the first administration (Day 1), at pre-dose from Day 5 to Day 7, and at 0.5, 1, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, 96, 144, and 216 h after the last (7th) administration (Day 7). At each blood sampling point, approximately 4 mL of blood was collected into a sodium heparin tube, centrifuged at 3,000 rpm for 10 min at 4°C. The plasma aliquots were mixed with acetonitrile containing 0.005% ascorbic acid in a 10:1 ratio for matrix matching and stored at −70°C until analysis.

    Bioanalytic Methods

    Plasma concentrations of MIT-001 were quantified using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Analyses were conducted using a Shimadzu LC system (Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan) coupled with an AB SCIEX API 5000 mass spectrometer (Applied Biosystems/MDS Sciex, Foster City, CA, USA) in positive ion electrospray ionization mode. Separation was performed using a C18 column (2.1 × 30 mm, 3 μm particle size; ACE 3 C18; Aberdeen, Scotland) maintained at 40°C. The mobile phase consisted of water containing 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile containing 0.1% formic acid, delivered at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. Mass transitions for multiple reaction monitoring were 440.0 → 305.4 m/z for MIT-001 and 445.1 → 310.2 m/z for the internal standard, MIT-001-d5. Calibration curves demonstrated correlation coefficients exceeding 0.9963 for all plasma sample batches, within a validated concentration range of 2–2000 μg/L (Supplementary Table 2). Quality-control sample accuracies ranged from 100.5% to 104.0%, with imprecision below 5.0%. Full details of the validation results for plasma MIT-001 are provided in the Supplementary Material.

    Pharmacokinetic Analysis

    PK parameters were calculated using non-compartmental analysis with Phoenix WinNonlin® (version 8.4; Pharsight, Sunnyvale, CA, USA). Analysis was performed based on actual times of blood sample collection. Maximum observed plasma concentration (Cmax) and time to maximum plasma concentration (Tmax) were directly determined from the observed plasma concentration-time profiles. The area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) was calculated using the linear-up/log-down method. The Rac was defined as the ratio of the AUC during the dosing interval at steady state (AUCτ,ss) to the AUC during the dosing interval after the first dose (AUCτ,ss/AUCτ). Bioavailability (F) was estimated as the ratio of AUCinf for SC to IV administration.

    Safety and Tolerability Assessments

    Safety and tolerability were assessed by monitoring adverse events (AEs), physical examinations, 12- lead ECGs, vital signs (blood pressure, pulse rate, and body temperature), and clinical laboratory tests (hematology, blood chemistry, coagulation, and urinalysis). AEs were summarized by severity (mild, moderate, severe, life threatening consequences, or death) and their relationship with the IP. Local reactions at the injection site were evaluated throughout the study using a predefined scoring system that assessed symptoms such as pain, erythema, induration, and swelling.18

    Statistical Analysis

    Statistical analysis was performed using SAS software (version 9.4; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Descriptive statistics were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) for continuous variables and as frequencies and percentages for categorical variables. Dose proportionality was assessed by analyzing dose-normalized Cmax and AUC of MIT-001 using the Kruskal–Wallis test or the Mann–Whitney test. A linear mixed-effects model was used to compare the PKs of the SC and IV formulations, with the formulation as a fixed effect and participants as a random effect. The Fisher exact test was used to compare the proportions of participants with AEs across dose levels.

    Results

    Study Population

    A total of 40 participants were enrolled and completed the study as planned, with 24 participants in the SAD study and 16 participants in the MAD study. All participants were included in the PK analysis and safety assessments. The mean ± SD values for age, weight, height, and BMI of participants in the SAD study were 32.96 ± 6.84 years, 69.13 ± 6.79 kg, 172.33 ± 6.84 cm, and 23.96 ± 2.26 kg/m², respectively. For participants in the MAD study, these values were 28.69 ± 7.45 years for age, 71.38 ± 9.08 kg for weight, 173.56 ± 5.80 cm for height, and 23.66 ± 2.42 kg/m² for BMI. Demographic characteristics, including age, weight, height, and BMI, were similar across dose levels.

    Pharmacokinetic Analysis

    In the SAD study, MIT-001 showed a mono-exponential decrease pattern (Figure 3). It was rapidly absorbed, reaching Cmax at a median time of 1.5–2.0 h. The mean t1/2 ranged from 26.97 to 40.30 h (Table 1). Cmax and AUCs (AUClast and AUCinf) increased with the dose level of MIT-001. While dose linearity was observed within the SC dose range of 10–40 mg, dose proportionality was not confirmed. The difference in dose-normalized Cmax across dose levels was not statistically significant (P =0.1492), but significant differences were observed in dose-normalized AUClast and AUCinf (both P =0.0115).

    Table 1 Pharmacokinetic Parameters of MIT-001 After a Single Subcutaneous (SC) and Intravenous (IV) Administration

    Figure 3 Mean plasma concentration–time profiles of MIT-001 after a single subcutaneous (SC) dose of 10, 20, or 40 mg, and a single intravenous (IV) dose of 40 mg, presented on (A) linear and (B) semi-logarithmic scales. Error bars represent standard deviations.

    In the MAD study, the overall concentration-time profiles of MIT-001 after multiple SC administrations were similar to those observed after a single SC administration, with a median time to Cmax at steady state (Cmax,ss) of 1.5–2.25 h (Figure 4). The mean t1/2 at steady state (t1/2,ss) ranged from 32.89 to 36.10 h (Table 2). Cmax,ss and AUCτ,ss at SC doses of 40 mg were more than doubled those observed at SC doses of 20 mg. No statistically significant differences were observed in dose-normalized Cmax,ss and AUCτ,ss between the 20 mg and 40 mg dose levels (both P =0.1564). The mean Rac values were 2.75 and 2.77 after multiple SC doses of MIT-001 at 20 mg and 40 mg, respectively.

    Table 2 Pharmacokinetic Parameters of MIT-001 After Single and Multiple Subcutaneous (SC) Administrations

    Figure 4 Mean plasma concentration–time profiles of MIT-001 after single and multiple subcutaneous (SC) doses of 20 or 40 mg, presented on (A) linear and (B) semi-logarithmic scales. Error bars represent standard deviations.

    The mean plasma concentration-time profiles of MIT-001 were comparable between SC and IV administration during the terminal elimination phase, with a t1/2 of approximately 40 h (Figure 3, Table 1). Consistent with previous studies, MIT-001 showed a multi-compartmental disposition after IV administration, with a rapid initial distribution phase followed by a slower elimination phase.16 The mean F of MIT-001 after SC administration was 0.94.

    Safety and Tolerability Assessments

    In the SAD study, 26 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported in 14 participants (58.3%), with 20 events in 13 participants (54.2%) classified as adverse drug reactions (ADRs) (Table 3). No ADRs were reported after a single MIT-001 IV administration. The most common ADRs were local reactions at the injection site, observed in 7 MIT-001-treated participants (38.9%) with 11 cases (4 cases of erythema, 3 cases of bruising, 3 cases of pain, and 1 case of induration) and in 4 placebo-treated participants (66.7%) with 6 cases (4 cases of erythema, 1 cases of bruising, and 1 case of discomfort).

    Table 3 Summary of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) After a Single Subcutaneous (SC) and Intravenous (IV) Administration of MIT-001 or Placebo

    In the MAD study, 34 TEAEs were reported in 15 participants (93.8%), all of which were classified as ADRs (Table 4). The most common ADRs were also local reactions at the injection site, observed in 10 MIT-001-treated participants (83.3%) with 26 cases (8 cases of bruising, 7 cases of induration, 6 cases of erythema, 3 cases of pain, 1 case of dysaesthesia, and 1 case of oedema) and in 4 placebo-treated participants (100.0%) with 4 cases (2 cases of erythema, 1 case of induration, and 1 case of pain).

    Table 4 Summary of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) After Multiple Subcutaneous (SC) Administrations of MIT-001 or Placebo

    In clinical laboratory tests, one ADR (eosinophilia) was reported in the SAD study, and three ADRs (blood phosphokinase increased, blood uric acid increased, and white blood cell count decreased) were reported in the MAD study. Except for one placebo-treated participant who reported nausea and headache, no clinically significant changes or abnormalities in physical examinations, vital signs, or 12- lead ECGs were observed in any participants.

    In both the SAD and MAD studies, no statistically significant differences were observed in the proportions of participants with ADRs, including local reactions, across dose levels. All ADRs were mild, except for one moderate case of white blood cell count decreased, which resolved without medication or therapy and was not associated with observable symptoms, such as fever. All ADRs resolved without intervention, except for one mild case of injection site induration, which was classified as resolving. No serious AEs were reported during the study.

    Discussion

    This study aimed to evaluate the PK and safety profiles of MIT-001 after SC administration in healthy participants. Previous studies on the IV formulation demonstrated that MIT-001 was well tolerated at a maximum single dose of 200 mg and a maximum multiple dose of 30 mg once daily for seven consecutive days.16,17 Based on these findings, an initial SC dose of 10 mg for the SAD study and 20 mg for the MAD study were selected, as these doses were anticipated to be both safe and pharmacologically effective.

    In consideration of the ease of self-administration for patients performing SC injections independently, injection site of this study was determined as the abdominal region. Given that SC injection volumes exceeding 2 mL can cause issues such as injection site pain, doses were administered at intra-abdominal sites divided into eight zones.19 This ensured that injections were given without overlap and that the volume per each injection site did not exceed 2mL.

    The most common ADRs were mild local reactions at the injection site, with no statistically significant differences in incidence across dose levels. These local reactions resolved without sequelae, except for one mild case of injection site induration, which was classified as resolving. This suggests that local reactions are unlikely to constitute dose-limiting toxicities in future studies involving patient populations.

    In clinical laboratory tests, all ADRs were mild, except for one moderate case of white blood cell count decreased reported after multiple doses of MIT-001 20 mg. The causality with the IP was classified as possible, considering the timing of the AE onset and the possible anti-inflammatory mechanism of MIT-001. However, the AE resolved without intervention, was not associated with observable symptoms, and was not observed at the higher 40 mg dose, indicating it was not clinically significant. Apart from clinical laboratory test abnormalities, no systemic ADRs were observed in MIT-001-treated participants after SC and IV administration. These findings suggest that the SC formulation is not expected to cause systemic issues, consistent with results from previous studies on the IV formulation.16,17

    In the SAD study, the mean t1/2 increased with dose, ranging from 26.97 to 40.30 h. However, this trend was not considered significant, as it aligns with previous studies where the mean t₁/2 ranged from 27.3 to 45.4 h after a single IV administration.16 While dose linearity was observed within the SC dose of 10–40 mg, dose proportionality was not confirmed. In the MAD study, the AUCτ,ss at SC doses of 40 mg was more than doubled that observed at SC doses of 20 mg, indicating a greater-than-dose-proportional increase in systemic exposure and suggesting a nonlinear PK profile. This nonlinearity may be due to saturation of pre-systemic elimination mechanisms at the injection site.20 SC tissue contains metabolizing enzymes that can contribute to local drug degradation prior to systemic absorption.21 At lower doses, a substantial portion of the drug may be metabolized locally, reducing bioavailability. However, at higher concentrations, these enzymatic pathways may become saturated, resulting in a greater proportion of the dose reaching systemic circulation. This would explain the supraproportional increase in systemic exposure observed in SC administration, in contrast to the proportional exposure increases reported with IV administration.16,17

    The F of MIT-001 after SC administration was high, with a mean value of 0.94. Additionally, the GMRs and 90% CIs for AUCs (AUClast and AUCinf) of the SC formulation relative to the IV formulation were within the bioequivalence limit of 0.80 to 1.25, indicating comparable systemic exposure between the two formulations. These findings suggest that the SC formulation of MIT-001 can serve as a switchable alternative to the IV formulation.

    In an in vitro study, MIT-001 demonstrated a ROS scavenging capacity, with an IC50 of 14.3 µM.22 Another in vitro study using IEC-6 cells, normal small intestinal epithelial cells irradiated at 10 and 20 Gy, showed significant restoration of cell viability at MIT-001 concentrations of 20 and 40 µg/L.23 In an OM hamster model, the minimal effective dose of MIT-001 was 0.3 mg/kg, equivalent to 2.34 mg in adult humans.24,25 Based on these findings, SC doses of MIT-001 at 10 mg or more are expected to achieve sufficient exposure to exert pharmacological effects in patients with OM. Accordingly, the Phase 2 clinical trials (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04651634, NCT05493800) were appropriately designed to evaluate IV dose levels of 5–20 mg and 20–60 mg, encompassing the expected effective dose while enabling both dose–response characterization and safety profiling.

    This study was conducted in healthy participants, which may not fully represent the PK and safety profiles in patient populations. Additionally, the relatively small sample size (N=40) may also limit the generalizability of these findings. Therefore, further investigations in patients are warranted to confirm these results under pathological conditions.

    Conclusion

    The systemic exposure of MIT-001 after SC administration increased linearly across the dose levels of 10–40 mg after SC administration. The PK profiles of MIT-001 were comparable between SC and IV formulations, with an F value of 0.94. MIT-001 was well tolerated after a single SC dose of 10–40 mg and multiple SC doses of 20–40 mg in healthy participants. The SC formulation of MIT-001 is anticipated to provide benefits to patients by improving patient adherence and convenience for long-term management.

    Data Sharing Statement

    De-identified individual participant data that support the finding of this study are available from the corresponding author ([email protected]) upon reasonable request and with appropriate approvals, at any time after publication.

    Acknowledgments

    This study was sponsored by MitoImmune Therapeutics Inc., Seoul, Korea. The investigation was conducted at the Clinical Trials Center, Seoul National University Hospital.

    Disclosure

    The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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    8. Kim HJ, Yoon KA, Lee MK, Kim SH, Lee IK, Kim SY. A novel small molecule, NecroX-7, inhibits osteoclast differentiation by suppressing NF-kappaB activity and c-Fos expression. Life Sci. 2012;91(19–20):928–934. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2012.09.009

    9. Im KI, Kim N, Lim JY, et al. the free radical scavenger necrox-7 attenuates acute graft-versus-host disease via reciprocal regulation of th1/regulatory t cells and inhibition of HMGB1 release. J Immunol. 2015;194(11):5223–5232. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.1402609

    10. Jin SA, Kim SK, Seo HJ, et al. Beneficial effects of necrosis modulator, indole derivative necrox-7, on renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. Transplant Proc. 2016;48(1):199–204. doi:10.1016/j.transproceed.2015.12.018

    11. Park J, Park E, Ahn BH, et al. NecroX-7 prevents oxidative stress-induced cardiomyopathy by inhibition of NADPH oxidase activity in rats. Toxicol Appl Pharm. 2012;263(1):1–6. doi:10.1016/j.taap.2012.05.014

    12. Vagliano L, Feraut C, Gobetto G, et al. Incidence and severity of oral mucositis in patients undergoing haematopoietic SCT–results of a multicentre study. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2011;46(5):727–732. doi:10.1038/bmt.2010.184

    13. Peterson DE, Boers-Doets CB, Bensadoun RJ, Herrstedt J, Committee EG. Management of oral and gastrointestinal mucosal injury: ESMO clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2015;26(5):v139–51. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdv202

    14. Sonis ST. Mucositis: the impact, biology and therapeutic opportunities of oral mucositis. Oral Oncol. 2009;45(12):1015–1020. doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2009.08.006

    15. Sonis ST. The pathobiology of mucositis. Nat Rev Cancer. 2004;4(4):277–284. doi:10.1038/nrc1318

    16. Kim S, Chung H, Lee S, et al. Pharmacokinetics and safety of a single dose of the novel necrosis inhibitor LC28-0126 in healthy male subjects. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2017;83(6):1205–1215. doi:10.1111/bcp.13213

    17. Kim E, Hwang I, Lee S, et al. Pharmacokinetics and Tolerability of LC28-0126, a novel necrosis inhibitor, after multiple ascending doses: a phase i randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in healthy male subjects. Clin Ther. 2020;42(10):1946–1954e2. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2020.08.011

    18. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Clinical Drug Interaction Studies — Cytochrome P450 Enzyme- and Transporter-Mediated Drug Interactions Guidance for Industry. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/media/134581/download. Accessed 22, January, 2025.

    19. Yáñez JA, Remsberg CM, Sayre CL, Forrest ML, Davies NM. Flip-flop pharmacokinetics–delivering a reversal of disposition: challenges and opportunities during drug development. Ther Deliv. 2011;2(5):643–672. doi:10.4155/tde.11.19

    20. Richter WF, Bhansali SG, Morris ME. Mechanistic Determinants of Biotherapeutics Absorption Following SC Administration. Aaps J. 2012;14(3):559–570. doi:10.1208/s12248-012-9367-0

    21. Lau N, Phan K, Mohammed Y. Role of skin enzymes in metabolism of topical drugs. Metab Target Organ D. 2024;4(4).

    22. Shin I-S. Electrochemical Analysis to Confirm the ROS Removal Capacity of LC28- 0126.

    23. The Catholic University University of Korea Institute for Translational Research and Molecular Imaging. Preclinical Study on the Effect of NecroX-7 (MIT-001) on Oral Mucositis.

    24. MitoImmune Therapeutics Inc. R&D Center. In Vivo Efficacy Study of MIT-001 against Chemotherapy-induced Oral Mucositis in Hamster.

    25. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Estimating the maximum safe starting dose in initial clinical trials for therapeutics in adult healthy volunteers. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/estimating-maximum-safe-starting-dose-initial-clinical-trials-therapeutics-adult-healthy-volunteers. Accessed 4, December, 2024.

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  • British American Tobacco – Velo & The McLaren Formula 1 Team Reveal the Ultimate Fan Experience with “Live Your Fandom” Campaign

    • Behind the curtain access: Velo provides nine superfans fans from around the world a once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit the iconic McLaren Technology Centre
    • Fandom Meets Formula 1 Legacy: From sharing favourite fan memories with McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown to a surprise Q&A with Lando Norris, fans became part of the McLaren magic.

    Forget the grandstands, forget the screens. This season, Velo, a leading global brand of tobacco-free nicotine pouches, have redefined fan access with the McLaren Formula 1 Team, taking them behind closed doors through the “Live Your Fandom” campaign.

    Velo, who champions those who embrace authenticity and self-expression, and the McLaren Formula 1 Team, are putting fandom front and centre. The two brands have come together to deliver unparalleled experiences and reward a community of global fans throughout the F1 season.

    From selected supporters and McLaren Plus app, competition winners from across the world including, UK, Romania, Czech Republic and Mexico, nine fans were granted the golden ticket: a full day embedded within the McLaren Formula 1 Team, transforming superfans into true insiders.

    Stepping into the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in Surrey, UK, the lucky fans were immersed in an exclusive, behind the scenes tour of the MTC. Excited by what they saw and inspired by McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown’s open letter to fans, they came together to share their favourite and most exciting McLaren moments. These memories were then shared directly with Zak himself in the first surprise visit of the day.

    Continuing their experience, the chosen nine were granted access to an exclusive design workshop where they were put to work. Their collective fan experiences were channelled into the inspiration behind several upcoming, top-secret projects, which are being kept under wraps, for now. Finally, a moment that every fan dreams of – a direct Q&A session with McLaren Formula 1 Team Driver, Lando Norris to finish off the ultimate McLaren Formula 1 Team experience

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  • The Strad – Fortissima: cellist Raphaela Gromes’ musical outcry for the forgotten heroines of music history

    The Strad – Fortissima: cellist Raphaela Gromes’ musical outcry for the forgotten heroines of music history

    Read more Featured Stories like this in The Strad Playing Hub 

    Following her number one album Femmes (2023) which focused on a kaleidoscope of female composers from the Baroque to the present day, cellist Raphaela Gromes is continuing her exploration of works by female composers with Fortissima.

    Released on 12 September, Fortissima will focus on major works – sonatas, concertos, orchestral pieces – by female artists that have been neglected in music history.

    Gromes and her long-time piano partner Julian Riem aim to bring these forgotten musical gems back into the concert hall and into music catalogues. Many works on Fortissima were inaccessible until recently – either lost, gathering dust in private estates or simply never published.

    ’During my training, I never came into contact with female role models,’ says Gromes. ’For a long time, I thought they hardly existed.

    ’It was only when I was researching for Femmes and Fortissima that I realised how many outstanding female composers there were – they were just systematically ignored. Their music is often breathtakingly good. I want to pass this knowledge on – to young female musicians, to the public, to the world.’

    The first part of Fortissima combines works for cello and piano – by Henriëtte Bosmans, Victoria Yagling, Emilie Mayer, Mélanie Bonis and Luise Adolpha Le Beau, among others. The programme is complemented by an arrangement of Adele’s ‘All I Ask’ as a bonus track.

    Part two focuses on works for cello and orchestra, with works by Maria Herz, Elisabeth Kuyper, Marie Jaëll, Rebecca Dale, as well as an orchestral cover of P!nk’s anthem ’Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken’.

    Additionally, the album will be released alongside the accompanying non-fiction book of the same title, published by Goldmann Verlag. Along with musicologist Susanne Wosnitzka, Gromes explores the forgotten stories of the album’s composers.

    Gromes spoke with The Strad about her latest project.

    ‘Fortissima’ follows up from ‘Femmes’ and focuses on larger scale works by female composers. How did you go about finding these works? Had you heard of them before, were they recommended to you, or did you have to do some research? 

    The almost unbelievable fact is: I never heard of any of those works before – also not during my studies at the universities in Munich, Leipzig and Vienna. But during Covid, a feminist friend of mine said: ’Now is the time to do some research. What about female composers?’

    That´s what I did, and I was totally overwhelmed by what I found, by the sheer multitude and also the quality of works by women whose names I had never heard before. When I started to work on Femmes, I quickly realised that this could only be the beginning. Fortissima was the next logical step, bringing together some of the larger works I had found —cello sonatas and concertos. 

    I was working together with the Archive Frau und Musik in Frankfurt and had access to scores from publishers like Hildegard Publishing and Furore Verlag. We picked the sonatas that my piano partner Julian Riem and I enjoyed the most in our duo concerts in the last few years.

    The Sonata by Henriëtte Bosmans became one of my absolute favourite works of the Romantic period. We are especially happy that Henle is publishing a brand-new edition of this big sonata alongside the release of our album, and Julian and I even had the honour to contribute bowings and comments for this edition.

    When I was finishing the programme, I still felt something was missing. Right at that moment, I received an email from a man called Albert Herz. The subject line was: ’Cello Concerto by my grandmother Maria Herz.’ I opened the score of this truly amazing piece and thought: this is it. This was the missing piece.

    The concerto had never been premiered, because Jewish composers were forbidden under the Nazi regime. Maria Herz fled Germany, first to England and later to the US, and she never composed again. The fact that her genius concerto suddenly landed in my inbox exactly at that moment felt like serendipity.

    Of course, not every work came to me so easily. Elisabeth Kuyper’s Ballade, for instance, had once been premiered by the Berlin Philharmonic, but today no orchestral score was to be found. The only surviving source was a piano version. So Julian sat down and reconstructed the orchestral voices from it. Thanks to his work, this beautiful piece can now be heard again in orchestral colours. 

    Is there a particular work on the album that you’d like to highlight? 

    It’s not easy to pick one piece, because I obviously love all of them. But if I had to highlight one, it would be Marie Jaëll’s Cello Concerto, the very first concerto for cello ever written by a woman.

    Jaëll had a successful career as a pianist, but as a composer she didn’t gain the recognition she earned. She studied with Saint-Saëns, whom she met through her husband Alfred Jaëll. Franz Liszt admired her greatly – also her compositions – and once said that if a man’s name were written on her music, everyone would be playing it.

    She wrote her cello concerto after the death of both her beloved husband and her mother. For me, this grief and loss is especially present in the second movement, which I consider the heart of the concerto. This movement had never been recorded or orchestrated before. Julian and I found the manuscripts in the National Library in Strasbourg and created, alongside the premiere recording, a new edition of the concerto with all four movements.

    This way, it becomes possible for other cellists, orchestras, and promoters to program this wonderful piece, which deserves to be heard much more often.

    Fortissima_Cover_ALBUM (1)

    What was the reasoning behind including two works by modern pop stars, Adele and P!nk? Can you tell us a little bit about these arrangements?

    Fortissima is a ‘femmage’ to heroines of music and to strong women across time. Adele and P!nk are among today’s most authentic icons in music, writing melodies that are both moving and memorable, songs I love to bring to life on the cello.

    In the case of P!nk, I find her voice especially powerful and fearless. Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken was written as a feminist chant, about resilience, the refusal to be silenced, and the fight for freedom and equality. Including it in the programme felt very natural.

    The arrangements, like all arrangements by Julian Riem, stay close to the originals. They are cover versions, and at the same time a bow to the strength of the original voices.

    Fortissima is released on 12 September 2025 on Sony Classical.

    Raphaela Gromes and Julian Riem will perform a Fortissima release concert on 11 October at the Elgar Room, Royal Albert Hall, London.

    Watch Raphaela Gromes perform Méditation in F Major, Op.33 by Mel Bonis in the video below:

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  • Nottingham Forest: Ange Postecoglou appointed manager

    Nottingham Forest: Ange Postecoglou appointed manager

    It is clear that Nuno’s counter-attacking style differs largely from Postecoglou’s approach, so what does this mean for Forest?

    Forest’s transfer business this summer appears to have been done with an eye on becoming a more technical, ball-dominant side.

    Interestingly, James McAtee, Douglas Luiz and Oleksandr Zinchenko are all players who have all developed at Manchester City, highlighting the change in intent.

    Big-money signing Omari Hutchinson and fellow Chelsea graduate Calum Hudson-Odoi might also enjoy playing in a way that ensures they keep the ball more, with licence to create.

    Questions arise when looking at the out-of-possession differences between both managers.

    Nuno has often held the lowest defensive line in the league across his various clubs, with Postecoglou playing the highest defensive line at Spurs.

    If this drastic change is implemented immediately, some of Forest’s strongest defenders, who thrive on defending their box, may not be maximised. The defensively astute Nikola Milenkovic comes to mind here.

    The difference in system raises questions for somebody like Ola Aina, who had an incredible campaign last season playing as a touchline wing-back, a role that differs from the inverted full-back demands asked of a Postecoglou full-back.

    Postecoglou has been reluctant to alter his system, but there was a level of pragmatism seen in Spurs’ Europa League win.

    Tottenham were happier to defend their own box for large periods of time, leading to success against Eintracht Frankfurt and United.

    Without a pre-season, and coming into a club that has been built on a counter-attacking, five-at-the-back style, adopting an approach more in line with Spurs’ knockout games might be a sensible thing to do early in Postecoglou’s tenure.

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  • CVC Secondary Partners backs TDR’s investment in David Lloyd

    CVC Secondary Partners backs TDR’s investment in David Lloyd

    Leading investors back next growth phase of David Lloyd

    TDR Capital LLP (“TDR”), a leading UK-based private equity firm, is pleased to announce the successful closing of a newly formed continuation vehicle (“TDR Capital Titan”) which has been formed to acquire majority control of David Lloyd Leisure (“David Lloyd”), Europe’s largest operator of premium racquets, health and fitness clubs, from TDR Capital III and its co-investors (“TDR III”).

    TDR Capital Titan will look to build on the success of TDR III and to continue the company’s ambitious growth plans. It also enables TDR III investors to realise their investment in a high-quality, well-performing asset, and provides new investors with the opportunity to invest behind David Lloyd and its future expansion.

    TDR Capital Titan has been backed by a range of leading investors and asset managers, including the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (acting by its investment manager, TCI Fund Management), investment funds managed by Coller Capital, Apollo’s Sponsor and Secondary Solutions (S3) business, CVC Secondary Partners and Hollyport Capital.  

    TDR believes that the high quality of this new investor base demonstrates the attractive nature of the opportunity and the belief in David Lloyd’s excellent performance and growth prospects. TDR Capital Titan and its co-investors have set aside over £100m of additional capital to invest in the business and support its ongoing expansion. David Lloyd currently has a strong pipeline of future club openings across Europe and the UK and continues to roll out its premium spa and wellness offering and build additional padel courts to attract new members.

    Completion of the acquisition by TDR Capital Titan, which is subject to customary conditions, is expected to take place in October 2025.

    Russell Barnes, CEO David Lloyd Leisure, said: “We are delighted to have TDR’s continued backing as we enter our next phase of growth. Coming off the back of our strongest year yet – both in terms of membership numbers and the performance of the business – we continue to see huge opportunities for David Lloyd across Europe and in the UK. Our focus will remain on investing in premium site features, including spas and facilities for fast-growing sports like padel, where we are the UK’s leading operator. These investments are driving improved customer satisfaction levels and record numbers of members choosing premium packages, and we are confident that this strategy will continue to deliver results.”

    Tom Mitchell, Managing Partner at TDR Capital, said: “David Lloyd has been a highly successful investment for TDR to date, achieving significant growth and operational transformation over the first period of our ownership. We remain excited by the opportunities ahead for the business which are supported by growing consumer demand for premium wellness services. We saw significant investor interest in TDR Capital Titan and look forward to working with our new partners to support David Lloyd’s next stage of growth. The transaction has allowed our current investors the option for a full exit, and we are very pleased to be continuing our work with Glenn, Russell and the wider David Lloyd team.”

    Since acquiring David Lloyd in November 2013, TDR III has worked in partnership with the company’s management team to transform the business, delivering sustained growth and improved customer experience. Since 2013, David Lloyd has nearly doubled the number of clubs, opening over 40 new locations in the UK and 30 across Europe, tripled the number of employees to 11,600 and nearly doubled membership numbers to over 800,000.

    Jefferies acted as sole financial advisor to TDR on the transaction and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal adviser in relation to the transaction and the establishment of TDR Capital Titan.

    Morgan Stanley & Co. International Plc acted as financial adviser to David Lloyd and Travers Smith advised David Lloyd management in relation to the transaction.
     

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  • Melitta Group, new official Real Madrid coffee sponsor

    Melitta Group, new official Real Madrid coffee sponsor

    Real Madrid and Melitta Group have reached a collaborative agreement whereby the German family-owned company will be the club’s official coffee sponsor for the next five years.

    The commitment extends to the men’s and women’s first teams and incorporates a joint communication and marketing plan.

    Jero Bentz, board member and great-grandson of the company’s founder, Melitta Bentz, said: “We are delighted with this partnership with Real Madrid, a club with a unique success story and global appeal.”

    Emilio Butragueño, Director of Institutional Relations at Real Madrid, added: “We are very excited to be working with the Melitta Group. In them, we have found a solid partner that shares our values of excellence, quality, and passion.”

    The agreement includes the supply of coffee, specialised services, and the installation of more than 200 coffee machines in various areas of the Bernabéu and Real Madrid City, in order to offer a better experience to employees, members, fans, and visitors.

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