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MIT chemists synthesize a fungal compound that holds promise for treating brain cancer

MIT chemists successfully synthesized verticillin A, a fungal compound that has shown potential as an anticancer agent. The researchers then generated derivatives of the compound and tested them against pediatric brain tumors, finding that some were effective against cancer cells with high levels of EZHIP protein.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateDec 4, 2025

Strategies to keep drug discovery research alive in the US despite funding cuts from biomedical researchers

Biomedical researchers recommend diversifying funding sources, pursuing earlier licensing and commercialization, and fostering international collaborations. The US drug discovery landscape is at risk due to federal funding cuts, and alternative approaches are needed to ensure continued progress.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Pharmacological Sciences·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateNov 26, 2025

Behind the 2025 “shroom boom” hides a bad trip

The article highlights the mismatch between psychedelics and economic drug development principles. Pharmaceutical companies are developing short-acting compounds and neuroplastogens to engineer trips out of the experience altogether. Dr. Sandy Hager's research suggests investors should remain cautious due to weak intellectual property ...

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·JournalFinance and Society·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 20, 2025

Solving a 70-year-old medical mystery surrounding a vasodialator may yield a novel way to treat brain cancer

A team at the University of Pennsylvania has solved the mechanism of action of hydralazine, revealing its potential to halt the growth of brain cancer cells. By blocking an oxygen-sensing enzyme, hydralazine can reduce intracellular calcium levels, causing blood vessels to relax and tumor cells to enter a dormant state.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 19, 2025

The genome editing playbook is different in neurons

Researchers found that CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing persists longer and produces more predictable results in non-dividing neurons. They also discovered new DNA repair genes that can be used to control gene editing outcomes, which could lead to safer and more effective therapies for genetic diseases.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 17, 2025

Computational deep dive surfaces unexplored world of cancer drug targets

A new computational tool called DeepTarget predicts direct and indirect targets of cancer drugs, revealing that small molecules can have different targets and effects depending on the disease and cell type. The study demonstrates the tool's superior performance in real-world scenarios, highlighting its potential to accelerate drug deve...

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·Journalnpj Precision Oncology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 14, 2025

New molecule reduces ethanol intake and drinking motivation in mice, with sex-dependent differences

A new compound MCH11, a monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitor, shows promising effects in reducing alcohol consumption and motivation to drink in mice. The molecule exhibits anxiolytic and antidepressant properties with sex-dependent efficacy, correcting genetic alterations associated with alcohol use disorder.

SourceUniversidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche·JournalBiomedicine & Pharmacotherapy·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 11, 2025

Distinguished cancer researcher Stuart S. Martin, PhD, named Chair of the Department of Pharmacology & Physiology at UM School of Medicine

Stuart S. Martin, PhD, has been appointed Chair of the Department of Pharmacology & Physiology at UMSOM, bringing over 20 years of success in advancing basic science research efforts and developing new drug therapies. His groundbreaking discovery of microtentacles on cancer cells promises to lead to new life-extending therapies.

Wake Forest University School of Medicine scientists uncover cancer treatment strategy that pushes tumor cells past their breaking point

Scientists at Wake Forest University School of Medicine have discovered a new way to kill cancer cells by blocking their ability to clean up harmful waste. By inhibiting peroxiredoxin-3, researchers found that toxic levels of hydrogen peroxide overwhelm cancer cells, destroying them.

SourceAtrium Health Wake Forest Baptist·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 4, 2025

Chemists design candidate drug against diabetes

A new small molecule drug, RAGE406R, has been developed to disrupt a key cellular pathway responsible for chronic inflammation and associated complications in patients with diabetes. The breakthrough could offer a new therapeutic option for stopping the harmful effects of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes at the source.

SourceUniversity at Albany, SUNY·JournalCell Chemical Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 29, 2025

AI models for drug design fail in physics

Researchers found that AI models predict protein structures despite modifications in amino acid sequences or ligands, indicating a lack of understanding of physical chemistry. The models only recognize patterns they've seen before and struggle with unknown proteins.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 29, 2025

Bias can lead to better therapies

Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys discovered a new mechanism to confer signaling bias in predictable ways, permitting rational design of new drugs. This breakthrough could lead to better therapies for addiction and psychiatric disorders by targeting the neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1) with biased modulators.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 22, 2025

Utah chemists discover enzyme that could help build next-generation GLP-1 drugs

Researchers have discovered an enzyme called PapB that can create tight rings in therapeutic peptides, enabling the creation of stronger, longer-lasting versions of GLP-1 medications. This enzymatic method offers a simpler alternative to traditional chemical methods and could improve the stability and effectiveness of these drugs.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalACS Bio & Med Chem Au·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 16, 2025

USC physician-scientists Denis Evseenko and Toby Maher win $3.2 million grant from the National Institute on Aging to develop regenerative drug for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Denis Evseenko and Toby Maher are developing a regenerative drug to block cells that promote fibrosis in the lungs, aiming to slow or reverse IPF damage. The team plans to test the safety and therapeutic potential of their drug-like molecules in animals and human cells.

USC Stem Cell scientists unlock blueprint for lab-grown kidney cells with preclinical value

USC Stem Cell scientists have developed a blueprint for generating specific kidney cell types on demand, holding immense value for preclinical studies of new therapeutics and congenital kidney diseases. The team successfully created lab-grown proximal tubule cells that can absorb sugar and protein, respond to chemotherapy drugs, and pr...

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 4, 2025

C-Path’s Translational Therapeutics Accelerator marks record year with seven BRIDGe awards advancing potential therapies across cancer, infectious disease, neurology and immunology

The C-Path Translational Therapeutics Accelerator has completed a record year of funding and mentorship, supporting seven projects in 2025 with approximately $2.48 million in awards. The program awarded grants to teams advancing treatments for rare liver disease, drug-resistant lung infections and pediatric brain tumors.

Beyond the trip: How compounds derived from psychedelics could help treat inflammatory conditions

Researchers have identified a new class of compounds derived from psychedelics that could open the door to safe, targeted therapies for widespread use in clinical settings. These PIPI drugs may modulate the immune system to control inflammation, potentially treating conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalBritish Journal of Pharmacology·TypeLiterature review·DateSep 1, 2025

Study points out that a synthetic molecule helps reduce visceral fat and improve sleep

A synthetic molecule called Pep19 has been shown to reduce visceral fat and improve sleep quality in overweight adults, with no side effects observed. The study involved 24 volunteers who took either a placebo or Pep19 in capsules, and found a 17% reduction in visceral fat and improved sleep quality in those who received the molecule.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalDiabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews·DateAug 28, 2025

MIT researchers develop a new model predicts how molecules will dissolve in different solvents

The new model can predict how well any given molecule will dissolve in an organic solvent, helping chemists choose the right solvent for reactions. The researchers trained two models on a comprehensive dataset and found that their predictions were two to three times more accurate than the previous best model.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 19, 2025