Research on the molecular targets that drugs act on. Covers new antibiotic mechanisms, drug discovery competitions, bile-acid pathways, and Alzheimer's targets.
A study has identified an agent that can reverse resistance to a targeted therapy in some cases of leukemia. Azacitidine was found to reactivate cells that had become resistant to the treatment SL-401 by reversing DNA methylation, making them vulnerable to the drug again.
Novel targeted cancer therapies have been shown to improve progression-free survival, response rate, and quality of life for patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Mogamulizumab has demonstrated significant clinical activity in clearing malignant T-cells in the blood and lymph nodes.
Scientists discover that pain medicine pentazocine preserves vision in a model of severe retinal degeneration by activating the Nrf2-Keap1 antioxidant pathway. The drug normalizes Nrf2 levels, potentially restoring its protective function and preventing oxidative stress.
Researchers discovered that inhibiting two forms of GSK3 can promote stem cell self-renewal or trigger differentiation into neural cells. The findings have implications for developing targeted therapies for diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer's, and could lead to the production of human stem cells with specific properties.
Aric Rogers' research discovered that NMD plays a critical role in extending lifespan under dietary restriction conditions. The grant will help expedite the development of 'DR mimetics,' drugs that mimic the effects of DR on longevity, potentially leading to new therapies.
Researchers developed a computational simulation method to predict protein sequence changes for efficient membrane insertion, correlating improved insertion efficiency with increased protein yield. The new approach offers a way forward for membrane protein researchers struggling to express their proteins.
Researchers developed a synthetic cannabis-like drug that was safe and effective in treating obstructive sleep apnea. Participants in the trial had reduced apnea and decreased subjective sleepiness after taking the drug for six weeks.
Research reveals that online products sold as selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) may contain unapproved substances or incorrect amounts. Most products did not match label information, highlighting the need for greater regulatory oversight of these appearance- and performance-enhancing drugs.
Researchers developed a powerful new computer model that replicates the biological activity within the heart preceding sudden cardiac death. The model has yielded important clues for developing treatments, identifying key molecular factors associated with arrhythmias.
Researchers have identified the METTL3 gene as a promising new drug target for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a potentially lethal disease. Inhibiting this gene destroys AML cells while leaving healthy blood cells unaffected.
A new study identifies a chimeric gene as the driver of fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FL-HCC), a rare and usually lethal liver cancer. The research offers prime targets for drugs to treat the disease, including kinases and cellular signaling systems. Researchers are now working to design therapeutics targeting these pathways.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine are studying the genetic protections against Alzheimer's disease using two existing longitudinal studies on aging. The study aims to identify networks of genes in healthy centenarians that protect them against dementia, which could help identify new targets for drugs to treat Alzheimer's.
A large registry study found that older adults with inflammatory bowel disease are more likely to consume healthcare services and undergo surgery than younger patients. The study also revealed a significant difference in medication between age groups, with younger patients receiving modern immunomodulating drugs and TNF inhibitors.
Scientists discovered a new cell signaling pathway governed by Notch signaling protein that keeps blood vessels intact, which could lead to better drug development and reduce side effects of cancer and cardiovascular treatments. The new pathway operates through a different mechanism than the protein's known transcription-based pathway.
A new study published in PLOS ONE suggests that endurance training can help alleviate muscle inflammation by targeting specific immune cells and promoting muscle repair. The research found that exercise alters microRNAs that downregulate immune processes and increase mitochondrial content, ultimately reducing muscle damage and inflamma...
Researchers found that inhibiting microRNA-204 could lead to better treatment of diabetes by regulating the cell surface receptor GLP1R. This could result in lower-drug doses and reduced dose-dependent side effects. The study suggests a novel approach to targeting beta-cell function and improving glucose control.
Scientists discover dysfunctional autophagy plays a central role in motor neuron diseases, characterized by muscle atrophy and loss. The PLEKHG5 gene controls the degradation of synaptic vesicles, and its dysfunction leads to aggregation and motor neuron disorder progression.
Researchers discover iridium, a densest metal, kills cancer cells by filling them with deadly oxygen, without harming healthy tissue. The treatment uses laser light to activate the compound, targeting key proteins in cancer cells.
A new mapping reveals trends in G protein-coupled receptor-targeted drugs, indicating more precise effects and reduced side effects. The study also identifies potential for further research into untargeted receptors related to genetic and immune disorders.
The UA Cancer Center research team has discovered that genistein, a compound found in soy foods, can protect BRCA1, a gene crucial in thwarting tumor development in breast tissue. This finding offers new hope for treating triple-negative breast cancers, which currently have no targeted chemotherapy available.
Researchers analyzed over 600 drug and breast cancer cell pairings, revealing significant changes in gene expression without affecting cell growth or survival. The study identified potential synergistic combinations of drugs, including trametinib and alpelisib, to overcome adaptive resistance mechanisms.
Two new medications have been approved to treat mild, moderate, and severe eczema in both children and adults. Crisaborole reduces itching, redness, and swelling, while dupilumab targets the underlying cause through injection therapy. These treatments provide effective relief and improve quality of life for those affected by eczema.
The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2017/18 simplifies drug discovery research by providing overviews of key properties for human drug targets. The guide features over 4,000 interactions between ligands and targets, allowing researchers to assess potency.
A preclinical study suggests a novel mechanism for treating pain without the addictive side effects of current opioid medications. The use of positive allosteric modulators enhances the effect of pain-relief chemicals naturally produced by the body, providing stronger and longer-lasting pain relief.
Scientists have found that a rare genetic disease known as NGLY1 deficiency could hold the key to understanding resistance to cancer drugs. Dampening this enzyme may allow proteasome inhibitors to continue killing cancer cells, providing hope for new treatments.
A new combination therapy using registered drugs albendazole and antibiotics has dramatically shortened treatment time for lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis, reducing it from weeks to just seven days. This breakthrough could accelerate elimination of these debilitating diseases, prioritized by the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
A new $1.85 million grant will support a Phase 2 clinical trial of AMX0035, a combination of sodium phenylbutyrate and tauroursodeoxycholic-acid, to test its effectiveness in slowing or stopping brain cell death in people with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers are studying the relationship between gut bacteria and Parkinson's disease, aiming to identify early signs of the illness. The study aims to compare the gut bacteria of people in the earliest stages of the disease with those who are healthy.
Researchers have developed a new class of drugs called PARP inhibitors to treat ovarian cancer by targeting synthetic lethality. These drugs aim to kill cancer cells by exploiting their genetic vulnerabilities, offering new hope to those with limited treatment options.
Researchers found that ceritinib, an FDA-approved drug for ALK-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer, also inhibits previously unknown targets. The study shows promise for repurposing the drug to target other cancers with networked alterations.
Monitoring blood levels of infliximab in IBD patients before loss of efficacy is associated with improved outcomes, including lower rates of surgery and hospitalization. This approach is linked to reduced treatment failure, infusion reactions, and need for IBD-related surgery or hospitalization.
The article explores how automation and innovative screens are influencing the search for inhibitors and activators of protein tyrosine phosphatases, which have been implicated in many human diseases. The resulting compounds are facilitating exploration of fundamental cellular processes controlled by phosphatases in cancers.
Researchers at Osaka University discovered that ivermectin, a medication for parasitic infections, also has an anti-tumor effect on epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells. The gene target KPNB1 was identified as having oncogenic properties, and its inhibition induced apoptosis in EOC cells.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have identified a new target for cancer therapies by blocking an enzyme crucial to tumor growth and a process that causes resistance to current treatments. A new drug called DQ661 successfully inhibits tumor growth in mice with melanoma, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers.
Researchers identified tau, a brain protein, as a potential target for stroke therapies. Mice deficient in tau showed significant protection from excitotoxic brain damage after experimental stroke, offering new avenues for treatment development.
Researchers have identified a zinc transporter, ZIP4, that is overexpressed in pancreatic cancer cells, making it a potential target for new drugs. The study reveals the structure of ZIP4's core, which conducts zinc transport, and identifies an unprecedented fold for membrane transporters.
Researchers have discovered that G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are active in the cell interior, influencing gene transcription and cell division. This finding has implications for developing innovative drugs targeting receptor function or uptake.
Senolytic agents target senescent cells, which accumulate with age and contribute to chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Mayo Clinic researchers have identified new screening platforms to find additional senolytic drugs, potentially leading to transformative treatments for aging-related diseases.
A Penn-led study identified 16 new genes associated with type-2 diabetes and one new genetic risk factor for coronary heart disease. The researchers found that most of the sites known to be associated with higher diabetes risk are also linked to higher CHD risk, highlighting potential targets for future therapies.
A new study by Georgia Institute of Technology researchers has found that a widespread biological concept affecting cancer research could be incorrect up to two-thirds of the time. The study's findings suggest that targeting proteins based on messenger RNA levels may not be optimal, potentially leading to drug targeting errors.
A new study refines death certificate data to provide more accurate estimates of opioid and heroin fatalities, resulting in significant shifts in state-by-state mortality rates. The corrected rates show a 24% higher national growth rate for opioids and a 22% higher rate for heroin.
A team of researchers developed a novel biosensor to track drug uptake in cells, overcoming previous limitations. The sensors use fluorescent proteins to monitor drug presence and can be tailored for various enzymes of interest to the pharmaceutical industry.
Researchers have discovered a potential new treatment for delayed neuropathy caused by insecticides or chemical exposure. The study identified the TRPA1 channel as responsible for the condition and found that duloxetine and ketotifen alleviate symptoms in animal models.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have discovered two brain cell populations that regulate appetite and may offer a new path to treating obesity. The study found that activating specific neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus can suppress hunger and promote weight loss, opening up new avenues for developing effective obesity drugs.
Researchers developed an algorithm that identifies the most influential people in social networks, known as 'hubs', and targeting them can effectively isolate a contagion. The approach shows promising results in controlling diseases like parasitic worm infections by treating fewer households.
A new screening method using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology has revealed new drug targets that could potentially enhance the effectiveness of PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors, a promising class of cancer immunotherapy. The study identified Ptpn2 as a key gene that makes tumor cells more susceptible to PD-1 blockade.
A recent study analyzing over half of the malaria parasite's genes found that two thirds are essential for survival, opening up new avenues for antimalarial drug development. The researchers developed a method to decipher gene function by switching off and counting the growth of genetically modified parasites.
Researchers at Uppsala University develop a small-scale method to determine bioavailability of drugs within cells, facilitating early-stage drug development. The method takes into account how drugs 'disappear' when binding to cell components, offering a promising tool for pharmaceutical companies.
Researchers at UCSF developed a computational method to analyze open-access data and identify new treatments for cancer. The method, called Reverse Gene Expression Score (RGES), predicts drug efficacy by analyzing molecular characteristics of real tumors. Four drugs were identified with potential to treat liver cancer and other diseases.
Researchers at CNIO found that Plk1 inhibitors can cause hypertension and severe cardiovascular problems, suggesting a need for more thorough studies on protein functions. The study used laboratory mice to model human diseases, revealing the critical role of Plk1 in maintaining blood pressure.
Researchers at The Francis Crick Institute and The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine identified a key protein involved in malaria parasite escape. Disrupting this protein reduces the efficiency of parasite escape, slowing down infection rate.
A new study from Bentley University and Tufts University tracks the progress of developing new therapies for cardiovascular disease, finding that median time to first approval is greater than 40 years. The authors propose accelerating drug development by optimizing basic research and synchronizing it with growth.
Researchers have identified a promising therapeutic target for African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness. The newly discovered TbALPH1 enzyme triggers the degradation of messenger RNA and is unique to the parasite's biology.
The article reviews current chemical search engines, named entity recognition and text mining systems to efficiently access biomedical data. Researchers emphasize the need for structured databases to process unstructured data in scientific literature, clinical reports, and patents.
Researchers found gilteritinib, an FLT3 inhibitor, to be a well-tolerated treatment that led to frequent clinical responses in patients with the FLT3 gene mutation, a common cause of relapsed leukemia. The drug showed promising results in a first-in-human study, with response rates tracking with the degree of FLT3 inhibition.
A newly described protein, PfAP2-I, regulates a number of genes involved with the parasite's invasion of red blood cells, making it an effective target for new antimalarial drugs. Preventing PfAP2-I from binding to DNA and initiating the expression of invasion genes could stop an infection before it reaches the red blood cell stage.
Scientists at Imperial College London discovered a way to target specific receptors controlling appetite in mouse brains without causing side effects. This breakthrough could lead to the development of a new type of anti-obesity medication that activates thyroid hormone receptors in the hypothalamus.
Researchers challenge existing understanding of MLL-translocation leukemia by finding that MLL2, not MLL, is the most appropriate target for drugs. The study shows that silencing wildtype MLL has no effect on disease development, but combining it with MLL2 knockout leads to significant reduction in leukemia.
Scientists develop new fluorescent imaging agents to detect enzyme activity in healthy and diseased tissues, enabling early disease identification and direct measurement of drug treatment effectiveness.
Researchers found that TB bacteria alter their metabolism to evade antimicrobials, but new drugs targeting these 'escape pathways' could lead to shorter treatments. This approach aims to improve compliance and reduce the emergence of drug-resistant germs.