Kenneth Jacobson

Thanks to @BioTuesdays for the deep dive on our work at @AstrocytePharma. 2026 is a pivotal year: Phase 2 trials are enrolling, our Series B is underway, and we’re moving closer to that much-needed neuroprotective therapy for #TBI and #stroke patients! biotuesdays.com/2026/02/03/ast…

UDP-glucose and MRS2905 agonist-bound states of the purinergic P2Y14 receptor: Communications Biology, Published online: 21 November 2025; doi:10.1038/s42003-025-09174-6The authors cracked P2Y14’s “sweet tooth”: structures bound to UDP-glucose and… nature.com/articles/s4200…

Footy star reveals concussion toll: 'I haven't slept unaided in years' mol.im/a/14752339 via @MailSport Astrocyte's new #STARFAST clinical trial is now treating concussed players in the Adelaide Footy League with AST-004 to see if we can limit these debilitating effects.

Great story by 7NEWS Adelaide covering @AstrocytePharma STARFAST Phase 2 clinical trial!! facebook.com/share/v/16Y4or…

🚀 More great news! @AstrocytePharma is honored to receive a $3M grant from the NIH to further advance the oral formulation of AST-004 toward an IND and the clinic! #concussion #TBI astrocytepharma.com/2025/06/astroc…

Carolyn Bertozzi delivered an amazing Margaret Pittman lecture today at NIH, & succeeded to explain complicated bioorthogonal chemistry to the broader scientific audience.

Astrocytes are stepping into the spotlight. 🌟 A trio of new Science papers reveals just how central these cells are to brain function—and why they may be the key to recovery after injury. Huge implications for TBI and stroke. science.org/doi/10.1126/sc…

Astrocytes have long been conceived as passive support player cells in the brain. But today @ScienceMagazine (via 3 reports) they got a big upgrade for their active role in neuromodulation and control of brain function science.org/doi/10.1126/sc…

A great week at the #TBIconference—Astrocyte was thrilled to be part of the scientific exchange and momentum driving new treatments forward. Dr. Korinek presented updates on the cerebroprotectant AST-004 advancing to Phase 2 clinical trials. #concussion #TBI #BrainHealth

@AstrocytePharma @StrokeAHA_ASA Result of our collaboration (CRADA) with Astrocyte, adenosine receptor agonist for cerebroprotection!

Summary of Astrocyte's Phase 1A clinical trial of AST-004 featured this month in @StrokeAHA_ASA's Article Commentary. For the Phase 1B study that also showed high safety and tolerability of extending dosing, the manuscript is in preparation - stay tuned! ahajournals.org/do/10.1161/blo…

irp.nih.gov/blog/post/2025… Photoswitchable A3 adenosine receptor agonist @IRPatNIH

Beautiful excursion into the history and importance of Photoremovable Protecting Groups: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ja… One of the best papers I have read this year. Congratulations to authors!

In an NIDDK study conducted with international support, researchers invented a light-activated psoriasis drug to selectively target skin lesions in a mouse model of psoriasis, reducing the likelihood of undesirable side effects. pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ja… @ACSPublications

Researchers from @SLU_Official and NIDDK discovered activating a mitochondrial adenosine receptor (A3AR) protects rodent neurons from chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity (CIPN), a common cause of nerve pain in cancer patients jneurosci.org/content/early/… @SfNJournals

NIDDK research out now in @nchembio: Selective Bioorthogonal Probe for N-Glycan Hybrid Structures. nature.com/articles/s4158…

@NIDDKgov @JMedChem @ACSPublications Collaboration with John McCorvy at Medical College of Wisconsin and other labs

In Journal of Medicinal Chemistry: NIDDK researchers discovered a new class of molecules, derived from existing antiviral and cancer drugs, that may lead to future therapeutics for fibrosis-related cardiopulmonary, vascular, & renal conditions. pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ac… @JMedChem

Serotonin, a molecule known for its regulation of neural activity and mood, can also cause inflammation. With reengineered molecules, the researchers blocked an inflammatory serotonin pathway at specific receptors outside the brain.

The researchers believe that studying these new molecules could lead to future treatment strategies for pulmonary arterial hypertension and other fibrosis-related conditions. Additional studies are planned to further optimize the drugs by chemical modification.