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Study says drugs could be developed cheaper and faster

Researchers have discovered a new way to identify and test new drugs using differential mobility spectrometry (DMS), which analyzes drug molecules based on their response to an electrical field. This technique can measure drug properties in seconds, allowing for high-throughput testing of hundreds or thousands of drugs.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalACS Central Science·DateFeb 22, 2017

Could drugs replace gastric bypass surgery?

Researchers have identified B0AT1 inhibitors as a potential replacement for gastric bypass surgery in treating obesity and related disorders. These compounds, including benztropine, could replicate the effects of gastric bypass by reducing nutrient absorption, offering a new treatment option.

SourceWiley·JournalBritish Journal of Pharmacology·DateFeb 8, 2017

Mapping the biology of drug-resistant multiple sclerosis

Researchers from Duke University have identified two specific receptors, CXCR2 and LTBR, that play a key role in the development of drug-resistant multiple sclerosis. The study found that targeting these receptors may lead to successful treatment for patients who do not respond to interferon-beta treatment.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateNov 7, 2016

Team finds new approach to curbing cancer cell growth

Scientists at Scripps Research Institute have identified a novel drug candidate that targets serine biosynthesis in cancer cells, inhibiting their growth. The new compound, CBR-5884, specifically targets the enzyme PHGDH, which is responsible for serine production, and shows promise in treating breast cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma.

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 7, 2016

Spider toxin analogue may help relieve pain

A spider toxin analogue, PnPP-19, has shown promise in relieving pain by targeting nervous system receptors similar to opioids and cannabis. The compound is also being studied for erectile dysfunction treatment.

SourceWiley·JournalBritish Journal of Pharmacology·DateMar 7, 2016

Shaving time to test antidotes for nerve agents

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory researchers developed a simulation to predict the permeability of drug molecules across cell membranes, enabling faster testing and development of nerve-agent treatments. The simulation shaved weeks off compound testing, reducing the time required from six weeks to just 16 hours.

TSRI chemists report nicotine-chomping bacteria may hold key to anti-smoking therapy

Scientists at Scripps Research Institute have discovered a bacterial enzyme that can degrade nicotine, offering a potential alternative to smoking cessation aids. The enzyme, NicA2 from Pseudomonas putida, has shown promising characteristics for drug development, including stability in lab settings and minimal toxic byproducts.

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateAug 6, 2015

DeuteRx's novel approach to chiral switching for racemic drugs

DeuteRx has discovered a method for in vivo stabilization and differentiation of thalidomide analogs, improving anti-inflammatory and antitumorigenic properties. The company's 'deuterium-enabled chiral switching' platform enables the testing and development of single enantiomers with improved therapeutic properties.

SourceMacDougall Biomedical Communications, Inc.·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 9, 2015

Supermaterial gives rejected drugs a new chance

Researchers at Uppsala University discovered that Upsalite, a highly porous magnesium carbonate, can improve the solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs. By using Upsalite, about 40% of newly marketed drugs with poor solubility may have their therapeutic efficacy enhanced.

SourceUppsala University·JournalInternational Journal of Pharmaceutics·DateJul 22, 2014

Attack is not always the best defense

Pharmacists at Jena University have developed three potential therapeutic agents that may improve the healing of inflammatory illnesses. The agents suppress a key enzyme in the body's own cascade of inflammation, specifically targeting 5-LOX, which plays a pivotal role in synthesizing leukotrienes. This breakthrough could lead to more ...

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalBritish Journal of Pharmacology·DateMay 27, 2014

Wayne State part of team for license on new ways to manage cancer with green tea extracts

Wayne State University has licensed an intellectual property portfolio claiming composition of matter and methods of use of novel analogs and derivatives of the green tea flavonoid EGCG. The collaboration, involving Q. Ping Dou and Tak-Hang Chan, aims to develop novel approaches for cancer management and related conditions.

Trial signals major milestone in hunt for new TB drugs

A novel approach to discover the first new tuberculosis (TB) combination drug regimen has cleared a major hurdle with a Phase II clinical trial finding it could kill more than 99 percent of patients' TB bacteria within two weeks. The results add to a growing body of evidence that this regimen could reduce treatment by more than a year ...

SourceBurness·JournalThe Lancet·DateJul 23, 2012

UMD team gives drug dropouts a second chance

A cross-disciplinary team at the University of Maryland has designed molecular containers that can hold drug molecules and increase their solubility up to nearly 3000 times. The discovery opens possibilities for rehabilitating drug candidates and improving successful drugs with better solubility.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalNature Chemistry·DateMay 8, 2012