Articles tagged with Drug Candidates
Key signalling pathways blocking by existing drug candidates limit CCHF virus reproduction. The findings offer hope for patients affected by this deadly disease, which has a high mortality rate in humans.
Current drug optimization prioritizes potency/specificity over tissue exposure/selectivity, leading to clinical failures. A new approach, STAR, classifies drugs based on potency/selectivity, tissue exposure/selectivity, and required dose to achieve clinical efficacy/toxicity balance.
Researchers investigated the structure‒tissue exposure/selectivity relationship (STR) in correlation with observed clinical efficacy/toxicity using seven selective estrogen receptor modulators. The results showed that tissue exposure/selectivity of SERMs was correlated with clinical efficacy/safety, while plasma exposure was not.
Scientists at the University of Bath have developed a new technique called Transcription Block Survival (TBS) to accelerate the discovery of cancer-fighting drugs. TBS identifies molecules that can shut down dangerous proteins before they wreak havoc, by blocking their interaction with cell DNA.
Researchers have developed a method to chart the first-ever map of allosteric sites in two common human proteins, revealing they are abundant and identifiable. This could lead to safer, smarter, and more effective medicines by targeting these 'secret doors'.
A new deep learning-based model called Highlights on Target Sequences (HoTS) predicts binding between drugs and target molecules, providing interpretable results. The model can predict target proteins' binding regions and interactions with drugs without a 3D complex.
Researchers have identified formononetin as a potential therapeutic for treating food allergies, which affect nearly 10% of the world population. The plant compound has been shown to decrease IgE production and influence gene and protein targets regulated in food allergy and mast cell diseases.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network has published new consensus recommendations to improve the safety and efficiency of research studies involving investigational drugs. The recommendations focus on seven areas, including pharmacy workflows and collaboration with sponsors.
Researchers from CCDC, Exscientia, and Oxford University have developed an automated method for informing the design of compound selectivity across protein families. The 'Hotspot API' uses ensemble hotspot maps to quantify the propensity for compounds to exploit interactions in preferred binding sites.
Codiak BioSciences' exoASO-STAT6 demonstrates potent anti-tumor efficacy by reprogramming tumor-associated macrophages to an M1 phenotype, showing promise as a monotherapy candidate for hepatocellular carcinomas and other cancers. The company plans to initiate Phase 1 clinical trials in the first half of 2022.
A recent review highlights the potential of structural proteomics in understanding pathological processes and predicting drug candidates for neurodegenerative diseases. The field combines protein chemistry and mass spectrometry to determine protein structure and interactions, which can lead to breakthroughs in treating serious health c...
A new study reveals that the Omicron variant is sensitive to inhibition by the interferon response, an unspecific immune reaction present in all body cells. This provides the first explanation for why COVID-19 patients infected with Omicron are less likely to experience severe disease.
A research team has found a new dual benefit mode of action for the drug candidate Zapnometinib or ATR-002, which can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 virus proliferation and reduce exaggerated immune responses.
An AI-driven solution identifies sites on RNA and DNA molecules where interaction with potential drug candidates can occur. This allows pharmaceutical companies to discover new medications in a more focused and efficient manner.
A new drug developed to target lymphatic filariasis (LF) and onchocerciasis has started its first human trial at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. The drug, AWZ1066S, targets Wolbachia, a bacterial symbiont essential for worm survival, offering a novel approach to eliminate these debilitating diseases.
Researchers at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences have created a process that increases the chances of finding effective drugs in a fraction of the time and at significantly less expense than current methods. V-SYNTHES, a virtual method developed by Vsevolod Katritch and colleagues, uses synthons to efficiently puzzle t...
Researchers developed a dish-based model that replicates the characteristics of dry age-related macular degeneration, allowing them to screen over 1,200 drugs for their ability to slow or halt disease progression. Two drugs, Aminocaproic acid and L745, showed promise in inhibiting key phenotypes associated with AMD.
Researchers at the University of Bath have optimised a peptide that prevents alpha-synuclein misfolding, a key feature of Parkinson's disease. The new molecule, 4654W(N6A), has shown significant promise in lab experiments and could lead to the development of a disease-modifying treatment.
A new study has identified a promising drug candidate to minimize uncontrolled muscle movements associated with Parkinson’s disease. PD13R reduced dyskinesia by more than 85% in animal studies, also improving sleep quality compared to other treatments.
Researchers at Duke University have identified chemical compounds that can latch onto the coronavirus's 3D RNA structures and block replication. The compounds, which target the virus's RNA specifically, offer a new mechanism of action against COVID-19.
Cleveland Clinic researchers found that verubecestat, an Alzheimer's disease treatment, reduces glioblastoma progression by reprogramming tumor-associated macrophages into tumor-suppressing macrophages. This transformation leads to increased phagocytosis of tumor cells and reduced tumor growth.
A University of South Florida Health-led team discovered a lead candidate that selectively relaxes airway smooth muscle cells with no detectable drug desensitization. The biased beta-agonist, C1-S, offers a therapeutic option for asthma and obstructive lung diseases without the rapid loss of effectiveness seen with traditional β-agonists.
The University of Maryland School of Medicine has been awarded a $6.5M grant to develop a treatment for alcoholic liver disease-associated kidney dysfunction. The Institute of Human Virology and MitoPower will conduct clinical trials to test the safety and efficacy of MP-04, a lead compound in treating HRS.
Paxlovid demonstrates significant efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 virus, reducing hospitalization and death risks in adult patients by up to 89%. The treatment's development involved cutting-edge X-ray technology from the Advanced Photon Source.
Researchers developed a new online portal, DINC-COVID, to speed up the identification of potential pandemic treatments. The platform incorporates models of three drug targets and uses ensemble docking to score ligands' success in binding.
Researchers at Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica have isolated and characterized seven novel dimeric sesquiterpenoids with potent antimalarial activities. The most potent compound, Shizukaol A, exhibits an EC50 value 1000-fold more active than artemisinin.
A commonly used diuretic pill may help treat Alzheimer's disease in individuals with the apolipoprotein E gene APOE4. Researchers analyzed data from brain tissue samples and found that those taking bumetanide had a significantly lower prevalence of Alzheimer's disease compared to those not taking the drug.
Researchers have identified a molecule that slows cells' production of alpha-synuclein, a protein forming toxic aggregates in Parkinson's brains. The compound, A-443654, also reduces cell stress and may help degrade existing alpha-synuclein aggregates.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute elucidated the molecular mechanism of Molnupiravir, an antiviral agent that reduces Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus transmission. By incorporating RNA-like building blocks into the virus genome, Molnupiravir prevents further replication and transmission.
Researchers created a new open-access database to speed up the repurposing of old drugs as new treatments for various conditions. The NICEdrug.ch database includes information on 250,000 potential drug molecules and shows promising results in predicting drug behavior.
Researchers discovered that a protein called VDAC2 plays a key role in regulating calcium signaling within heart cells, which can help prevent chronic heart failure. Targeting this protein with drugs or therapeutic treatments may eventually alleviate heart failure.
Researchers at UIC are developing a potential COVID-19 treatment using VT-109, which has shown promise in animal models by restoring lung function and reducing inflammation. The new funding will be used to conduct pre-clinical studies to determine efficacy, toxicity, and dosages before human trials.
A drug candidate developed from a molecule in the venom of the Fraser Island funnel web spider can prevent damage caused by a heart attack and extend donor heart life for organ transplants. The treatment blocks a death signal sent from the heart after an attack, reducing cell death and improving survival.
Researchers from Skoltech and their colleagues discovered promising compounds among pest control chemicals that inhibit the synthesis of hyaluronic acid, a key component in connective tissue. These compounds show potential as anti-fibrotic drugs for treating liver fibrosis.
A study at ECCMID identifies existing drugs that could be repurposed to treat gonorrhoea by targeting efflux pumps, which remove toxic compounds from bacterial cells. The research found 57 potential drug candidates, including dequalinium and doxorubicin, which may serve as lead compounds for new gonorrhea treatments.
The FDA's approval of aducanumab for Alzheimer's disease treatment has sparked ethical issues, with billions of dollars in Medicare resources at risk. Physicians face difficult choices between facilitating unjust access to the drug or denying it to desperate patients and families.
Researchers at UC San Diego developed a high-throughput 3D bioprinting technology that can produce 96-well arrays of living human tissue samples in just 30 minutes, accelerating preclinical drug screening and disease modeling. This could potentially reduce the time and cost associated with drug development.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have developed a long-acting injectable therapy using an existing and cheap drug, showing promise in treating COVID-19. The formulation uses nanoparticle technology to deliver the drug sustainably over several months.
A team of researchers identified 37 substances that bind to the main protease of SARS-CoV-2, a promising starting point for COVID-19 drugs. Seven substances inhibit the protein's activity, with two showing high antivirality and good cell compatibility.
Chemists have developed a method to synthesize complex, three-dimensional molecules using light energy transfer, expanding the range of molecules for new drug development. The novel approach uses commercially available starting materials and demonstrates broad applicability.
The Endocrine Society emphasizes the need to study biological differences between females and males in medicine and research to improve public health. Studies have shown that SARS CoV-2 infection disproportionately affects men, while failing to consider sex differences can lead to failure of promising drug candidates.
A research team has discovered two families of active substances that can block the replication of SARS-CoV-2 by targeting its main protease enzyme. The drug candidates show promise for therapeutic development, but extensive clinical trials are still required.
OYE Therapeutics is developing a new life-saving strategy to reduce mortality and morbidity resulting from battlefield injuries. The company, in partnership with USU and HJF, aims to enhance acute pain control at the point-of-injury through its drug product pipeline.
Researchers designed a simple screening assay based on competitive binding to identify peptide candidates with high binding affinity for ubiquitin. The dimers of cyclic peptides were found to be more potent than control peptides and induced cell death in live cancer cell lines.
Researchers analyze molecular dynamics of proposed COVID-19 drug candidates to understand their interactions with target proteins in human cells. They found that certain parts of the molecules can move more easily once hydrated, which could influence how efficiently a drug takes on shapes associated with different biological functions.
Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) remains a rare subtype with poor prognosis. Simvastatin efficiently controlled OCCC proliferation and migration, demonstrating potential as a candidate drug.
Researchers at the University of Chicago used computational simulations to understand how remdesivir works against SARS-CoV-2. They found that remdesivir binds strongly to the virus and destabilizes its protein complex, reducing replication. This study provides insights into the molecular mechanism of remdesivir and its potential for e...
A team of international researchers found that certain FAK inhibitors remain bound to the protein for a long time, causing a structural change that inhibits cancer cell mobility. Computer simulations predicted the kinetics of binding well, allowing for more accurate simulation of drug dissociation rates.
Researchers have secured a £1.6 million grant to develop M102, a potential breakthrough in treating motor neuron disease (MND). The drug's neuroprotective properties were discovered by the University of Sheffield's Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), which will now advance its translational development.
Scientists developed a machine-learning framework to identify potential repurposed drugs for diseases, using massive amounts of data from patient care records. The analysis suggested six candidates, including metformin and escitalopram, which are currently being tested.
A comprehensive review of plant natural products reveals 459 compounds with antibacterial activity, providing promising candidates for new antibiotic discovery. The review, led by Cassandra Quave, aims to facilitate the search for effective drugs against antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
Researchers at MedUni Vienna's Institute of Pharmacology have isolated a beetroot peptide that inhibits prolyl oligopeptidase, an enzyme involved in the breakdown of protein hormones in the body. The study suggests that this peptide could be a promising drug candidate for treating neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases.
Researchers at Michigan State University have developed a deep learning model to predict the binding sites of known protease inhibitors targeting the SARS-CoV-2 main protease. The model can help drug developers prioritize promising candidates and save time and money in the early stages of drug development.
A new drug candidate, MPH-220, has been developed to target muscle spasticity after stroke and nervous system defects. By inhibiting the effector protein of muscle contraction, it may alleviate symptoms with a single pill per day.
University of New Mexico researchers have identified three medications with potential to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection: amodiaquine, zuclophentixol, and nebivolol. These drugs showed promise in test tube experiments and could be combined with remdesivir for a more potent attack.
A new assay using HEPATOPAC model identifies drugs with high DILI risk, showing high sensitivity and specificity. BioIVT's advanced in vitro liver model provides a promising solution for preclinical DILI risk assessment.
Researchers repurpose anti-malarial compounds to target the intestinal parasite Cryptosporidium, killing it in cell cultures and immunocompromised mice. The compounds work by inhibiting an enzyme responsible for protein production within the parasite.
A polygenic risk score has been developed to predict drug-induced liver injury, using genomic data and organoid models. The score can identify patients at risk of liver damage, allowing for safer medication choice and dosage.
A $11.4 million NIH grant has funded the advancement of a novel drug candidate, SBP-9330, targeting a neuronal signaling pathway underlying addictive behaviors to treat nicotine addiction. The drug is expected to be effective in reducing nicotine self-administration and may broaden its indication to other types of addiction.
Researchers have developed novel Selenium-based compounds that can stabilize the SOD1 protein, which causes ALS. These compounds show improved in vitro therapeutic effects and demonstrate disease onset delay in an ALS mouse model. The findings hold promise for a new class of drug candidates for ALS treatment.