Insilico Medicine announced it will present three abstracts at the 2026 Crohn’s & Colitis Congress in Las Vegas on January 23, 2026, featuring new data supporting the continued development of ISM5411 (ISM012-042), an orally administered, gut-restricted small-molecule inhibitor of PHD1/2 for inflammatory bowel disease. ISM5411 is designed to stabilize HIF-1α locally in the gastrointestinal tract to promote protective mucosal gene expression, support intestinal barrier repair, and reduce inflammation while limiting systemic exposure.

The presentations include first-in-human Phase 1 results in healthy volunteers showing favorable safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics consistent with gut restriction; 13-week repeat-dose toxicology studies in rats and dogs demonstrating good tolerability and a NOAEL at the highest dose tested; and preclinical efficacy in a chronic T cell transfer-induced colitis model, where ISM5411 reduced disease severity in both preventive and therapeutic settings, including in combination with anti-TNF therapy. Together, the data reinforce ISM5411’s potential as a novel approach to IBD that supports mucosal healing by strengthening epithelial integrity while regulating inflammatory pathways.

People have long said that “bread is life.” Now, researchers at Tufts University are using the bubbling mixtures of flour and water known as sourdough starters to explore what shapes life at the microscopic level. Their findings, published in Ecology, demonstrate a simple way to predict how microbial species will live together, providing insights that could inform baking, food safety, and human health.

Myosteatosis is associated with poor outcomes in various liver diseases. However, standardized methods for assessing, defining, and diagnosing myosteatosis in the context of liver diseases remain unclear. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms by which myosteatosis leads to pathophysiological progression and adverse health outcomes remain elusive. Therefore, in this review, we elaborate on the currently available measures, definitions, and diagnostic criteria of myosteatosis in the existing literature. We thoroughly clarify the recent evidence and data regarding the possible involvement of myosteatosis in the progression and deterioration of various liver diseases and resulting complications, including liver cirrhosis, chronic viral hepatitis, non-alcoholic/metabolic-associated fatty liver disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis, liver transplantation, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Additionally, it synthesizes insights from basic research on the pathogenesis of myosteatosis, which involves multifactorial mechanisms, including insulin resistance, mitochondrial dysfunction, and chronic inflammation. Finally, from an operational and pragmatic perspective, several regimens, including physical, nutritional, and pharmacological therapies, have been discussed as potential treatments for myosteatosis.

Researchers at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center have completed a study aimed at improving how physicians evaluate unintentional weight loss, a common but challenging clinical problem, particularly among older adults.