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AI can speed up drug development

Researchers at Uppsala University used AI to predict the three-dimensional structure of a receptor, identifying molecules that bind to it with higher accuracy than traditional methods. This breakthrough accelerates the development of new drugs for mental health disorders such as schizophrenia and depression.

SourceUppsala University·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 22, 2024

Sister hormone of GLP-1 can lead to better weight-loss drugs

Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding the GIP hormone's role in regulating insulin levels and weight loss. The study, involving over 500,000 individuals, found that inhibiting the GIP receptor may result in weight loss, while activating it without arresting its signal is crucial.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences·JournalNature Metabolism·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 13, 2024

NSF CAREER grant to investigate design of fluorescent protein sensors with computer simulations that may aid human health and disease

Dr. Alice Walker will investigate the design of fluorescent protein sensors using computer simulations, which may aid in tracking diseases and monitoring treatment effectiveness in living cells and organisms. The five-year $690,816 grant also supports undergraduate research opportunities for WSU students.

Wistar scientists develop novel antibody treatment for kidney cancer

Researchers at The Wistar Institute have developed a new, long-lasting antibody treatment called Persistent Multivalent T Cell Engager (CA9-PMTE) that targets clear cell renal cell carcinoma. This innovative therapy has shown promise in pre-clinical models and could potentially be used to treat other difficult-to-treat cancers.

SourceThe Wistar Institute·JournalJournal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 4, 2024

Insights into functions of micronutrient transporters may pave way for new treatments for neurological diseases

Scientists have discovered the transporters responsible for delivering essential nutrients choline and ethanolamine to human cells. The study sheds light on the atomic structure of these transporters and their role in distributing micronutrients throughout the body, providing a foundation for new therapeutic approaches.

Insilico Medicine publishes CDK8/19 novel inhibitor powered by generative chemistry platform to treat multiple cancers

Insilico Medicine's lead compound demonstrates strong enzymatic activity, selectivity, and favorable ADME properties, as well as antitumor activity in various animal models. The company's generative AI-powered platform generated over 3,600 candidate molecules before identifying the promising lead compound.

SourceInSilico Medicine·JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry·DateMay 14, 2024

A new therapeutic target for traumatic brain injury

Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have identified a blood coagulation protein, fibrin, as the culprit behind toxic inflammation and neuron loss after a major head injury. This finding can inform new treatment strategies for traumatic brain injuries, which often lead to dementia, depression, and difficulty concentrating.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalJournal of Neuroinflammation·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 19, 2024

Targeted liver cancer treatment kills cancer cells and cuts chemo side effects

Researchers have developed a new treatment that uses tailored doses of anti-cancer drugs released directly into the surgical cavity to treat liver cancer. The approach has shown promise in reducing recurrence rates and minimizing chemotherapy side effects, with potential applications for other types of cancer.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalInternational Journal of Pharmaceutics·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 14, 2024

How scientists are accelerating chemistry discoveries with automation

A new statistical-modeling workflow can quickly identify molecular structures of products formed by chemical reactions, accelerating drug discovery and synthetic chemistry. The workflow also enables the analysis of unpurified reaction mixtures, reducing time spent on purification and characterization.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalJournal of Chemical Information and Modeling·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 8, 2024

Drug design at the atomic level to thwart COVID-19

A Stanford University research team has developed a potential new anti-coronavirus drug that binds more tightly and durably than current treatments like Paxlovid. The compound, ML2006a4, performed well in preclinical experiments against SARS-CoV-2 variants that have evolved resistance to Paxlovid.

SourceStanford University·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateMar 13, 2024

New computational strategy boosts the ability of drug designers to target proteins inside the membrane

Researchers have demonstrated novel proteins that can efficiently reach intramembrane targets using a customized computer-based approach. The study yields a general computational process for streamlining protein design aimed at intramembrane targets, opening up possibilities for therapeutic applications and understanding signaling mech...

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateMar 13, 2024

Novel molecules from generative AI to phase II

Researchers used generative AI to design a lead molecule for treating fibrosis, a biological process associated with aging. The compound, INS018_055, demonstrated significant efficacy in preclinical studies and showed promising results in clinical trials, accelerating drug discovery and providing new therapeutic options.

SourceInSilico Medicine·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateMar 11, 2024

Can it take just a few minutes to calculate how proteins interact with drugs?

Scientists from IOCB Prague have developed a universal and accurate new computational method to predict how proteins interact with drugs. The SQM2.20 scoring function yields DFT-quality predictions in minutes, significantly accelerating drug discovery.

SourceInstitute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IOCB Prague)·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 20, 2024

Fight against malaria takes a step forward

Scientists at the University of California, Riverside, have identified 898 RNA-dependent proteins in the deadliest human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. These findings could lead to novel therapeutic targets against malaria and highlight the importance of RNAs in biological pathways in the parasite.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 14, 2024

Chapman scientists code ChatGPT to design new medicine

Researchers have created a genAI model called 'drugAI' that can generate unique molecular structures for potential drugs with high binding affinity and efficacy. The model outperforms traditional methods in terms of speed and cost, opening up new possibilities for disease treatment.

SourceChapman University·JournalPharmaceuticals·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 7, 2024

New approach to the design of therapies that enhance the effect of cholesterol-lowering drugs

Researchers discovered that reducing cholesterol levels in mice with advanced atherosclerosis leads to a decrease in the number of smooth muscle-derived cells causing plaque growth, while preserving stabilizing cell types. This finding opens up new opportunities for targeted therapies.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (F.S.P.)·JournalNature Cardiovascular Research·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 1, 2024