Articles tagged with Drug Discovery
Scientists at UNC and UCSF developed a general tool to find homes for 'orphan' cell-surface receptors, illuminating their roles in behavior. The creation of the research tool allows researchers to learn how orphan receptors interact with molecules inside the body or with drugs.
Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding how the flu virus works by studying its M2 proton channel. Using advanced MRI technology, researchers gained insight into the virus's replication process, which could lead to the development of new prescription drugs.
Researchers have detected how nature produces key chemicals similar to those in drugs that fight malaria, bacterial infections and cancer. The discovery sheds light on a complicated chemical process in nature that synthetic biologists can now borrow to engineer a whole new class of synthetic medicines.
A themed issue of Future Medicinal Chemistry highlights academia's role in drug discovery, discussing industry-academia alliances and novel models. The issue features expert commentaries on bridging the translational research gap and implementing open innovation platforms.
Researchers discovered that blocking TRPV1 protein causes an increased release of noradrenaline, leading to a rise in core body temperatures. This breakthrough opens the doors for new treatments of stress-related body temperature disorders.
Researchers at McGill University have developed a suite of computer programs to speed up the process of drug discovery for diseases like diabetes and Alzheimer's. The Fibrilizer program analyzes billions of possible genetic mutations to find weak spots in toxic protein strands, potentially leading to new treatments.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes mapped the discovery path to two FDA-approved drugs, revealing that a large network of scientists contributed over decades. The study proposes new metrics to quantify the influence of individual scientists in accelerating future cures.
Researchers have found three new drug-like compounds that target a protein responsible for chemotherapy resistance in cancers, offering hope for improved treatment options. The compounds have shown promise in re-sensitizing resistant cancer cells to chemotherapy, improving the odds of survival for prostate cancer patients.
The Harrington Discovery Institute has selected scholars to collaborate with R&D partners, including University of Oxford, Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation and Foundation Fighting Blindness. The program aims to bridge the 'Valley of Death' gap in bringing new medications from lab to market.
Researchers discovered that photoaging can be reversed by understanding how UV radiation affects skin fibers. Polina Mamoshina's study using Geroscope software platform analyzed pathway dysregulation in chronologically-aged and photoaged skin.
Researchers have successfully created functional liver cells from human embryonic and genetic engineered stem cells. The new method enables unlimited production of liver cells with high accuracy, revolutionizing pharmaceutical drug discovery and potentially improving treatment outcomes.
Scientists from InSilico Medicine have developed an approach to screen and rank geroprotective drugs using big data analysis, identifying compounds with potential geroprotective properties. The Geroscope software was applied to gene expression data derived from stem cells to select five drugs that displayed geroprotective action.
Researchers analyzed data from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing and found a significant link between serious falls causing injury in older men taking certain medicines with potent anti-cholinergic effects. The risk was more than twice as likely in men compared to women.
Researchers at Kyoto University successfully visualized RNA behavior within living brain tissue of mice, enabling the study of RNA distribution and its response to drugs. This breakthrough technique holds promise for accelerating the discovery and development of new drugs.
Researchers at Concert Pharmaceuticals demonstrated selective deuterium substitution to improve safety, efficacy, tolerability and convenience of paroxetine-based medicines. Deuterated compounds retain potency but exhibit altered metabolic profiles, reducing drug-drug interactions.
A team of Vanderbilt chemists used a novel approach called 'fight clubs' to identify promising new anti-cancer compounds from natural sources. By analyzing the interactions between bacteria and other microorganisms, they discovered a class of biomolecules with broad-spectrum activity.
A new drug discovery project, funded by a £3m Dementia Consortium, aims to target brain inflammation in Alzheimer's disease. The project will explore novel therapeutics to dampen the inflammatory response, which is believed to contribute to the disease's damage.
Scientists have discovered new antifungal compounds that selectively kill pathogens without evoking drug resistance. These novel compounds were designed to act as molecular sponges for ergosterol, found exclusively on fungi surfaces, and exhibit undetectable binding to human cells.
The Wistar Institute has secured a $5.6 million grant renewal from the Wellcome Trust to further develop cancer drugs targeting Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The goal is to create a therapeutic that can treat EBV-related cancers by attacking the virus as it remains dormant in patient cells.
A team of researchers has successfully engineered a yeast strain to produce morphine and potentially other drugs, including antibiotics and anti-cancer therapeutics. The breakthrough could significantly reduce the cost of drug discovery and manufacturing, but raises concerns about potential misuse and calls for urgent regulation.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have discovered the mechanism of action for BRD4, a protein critical to AML cell survival. Disrupting this pathway may lead to improved therapeutic strategies and new molecular targets for treating various cancers.
A research team from Griffith's Eskitis Institute led by Professor Vicky Avery receives a major boost to develop effective anti-malarial drugs against Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. The project aims to combat drug resistance and prevent relapse.
Researchers identified 422 structural clusters of naturally-derived fragments with diverse properties, suitable for chemical biology and drug discovery. These fragments could serve as the starting point for a highly diverse library with minimal structural complexity.
Scientists have discovered a molecular switch that allows human cytomegalovirus to enter dormancy or reactivate infection. By manipulating this switch with simple drugs, HCMV can be targeted with antivirals and purged from organs before transplantation.
Revolution Medicines has developed a unified 'building blocks' approach for synthesizing multiple classes of complex natural chemicals that could be valuable backbones for new medicines. The company's technology can produce a broad range of molecules, including those with diverse types of chemical bonds and highly complex cyclic struct...
A McGill University study reveals that only 37% of registered drug trials in cancer, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases were published between 2005 and 2009. The findings highlight the importance of sharing information from stalled drug trials to improve care, protect patients, and discover better drugs.
A recent study by the University of Basel analyzed new drugs approved by the FDA from 2003 to 2013, revealing that several parameters have improved efficiency. The researchers found that market access is not inefficient, but rather dependent on collaboration between industry and authorities.
Researchers at UGA have discovered a new small molecule drug that may serve as a treatment against multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. The compound works by interrupting the production of RNA, rendering the bacterium incapable of reproducing and spreading infection.
Researchers at the Buck Institute discovered how rapamycin inhibits mTORC2, a complex linked to metabolic side effects. The study suggests that manipulating FK506 binding proteins could selectively target mTORC1, reducing side effects and improving longevity outcomes.
Eve, an AI robot scientist, has demonstrated the success of its approach to speed up drug discovery and make it more economical. It discovered a compound that has anti-cancer and malaria properties, which could potentially improve the lives of millions of people worldwide.
Scientists at the University of Utah and Georgia have discovered a pharmacological target that could enable development of novel drugs against antibiotic-resistant pathogens, including MRSA. The target is based on a unique pathway for making heme, an essential iron-carrying molecule specific to Gram-positive bacteria.
Researchers analyzed soils from five continents to discover potential antibiotic and anticancer drugs. They identified unique gene clusters in these samples that could lead to new medicines, including ones used to combat tuberculosis and cancer.
Ben-Gurion University researchers found that alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) treatment can halt bacterial colonization and spread, preventing severe infections. The study showed treated mice combatted lethal bacteria better than untreated mice, with virtually no bacteria left to grow.
Researchers developed a fast and accurate method for screening cancer drugs using gold nanoparticles, allowing for rapid profiling of various anti-cancer drugs and their mechanisms. This new sensor system uses three-channel detection to identify specific cell death mechanisms, enabling the determination of drug mechanisms in minutes.
A team at Recursion Pharmaceuticals aims to accelerate the development of therapies for rare diseases by leveraging custom-designed software and human cellular models. The approach has already led to the identification of potential treatments for cerebral cavernous malformation, a rare hereditary vascular disease.
A researcher at American University has constructed a three-dimensional computer model of a receptor protein linked to human growth, which may lead to the development of drugs to treat conditions such as gigantism and dwarfism. The study was led by researchers from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human D...
Professor Tania Watts' team is investigating how the immune system contributes to cancer, with the goal of developing a new drug target. The University of Toronto professor will work with GSK to test their hypotheses using resources and expertise.
The Structure-guided Drug Discovery Coalition receives a $2 million grant to develop new medicines for tuberculosis, malaria, and other neglected diseases. Researchers aim to fast-track the discovery of new treatments for these conditions, which affect over a billion people worldwide.
A new computational model helps researchers rationally design and select protein molecules to create effective biologic drug therapies with reduced side effects. The model reveals that the length of a DNA linker influences how well fusion protein components attach to their intended receptors.
A new review reveals that anti-cancer drugs must obtain regulatory approval, change physician prescription habits and gain patient compliance before being incorporated into daily practice.
Researchers at Northeastern University have identified nearly 800 chemical compounds that could lead to a cure for African sleeping sickness, a deadly disease claiming thousands of lives annually. The discovery was made through screening and testing over 42,000 chemicals against the parasites that cause the disease.
A new study examines changes in alcohol use among women with unwanted pregnancies and finds that most quit or reduce consumption upon discovery. However, some may substitute alcohol for drugs. The study's results highlight the need for interventions to help these women reduce their drinking while pregnant.
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) have discovered a new molecule, Butelase-1, that can join chains of amino acids more efficiently and cleanly than existing molecules. This breakthrough has the potential to speed up the development of new drugs and treatments.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory researchers used supercomputers and molecular docking to predict adverse drug reactions (ADRs) from off-target proteins. The computational model outperformed current statistical methods in predicting side effects, particularly in vascular disorders and neoplasms.
The number of antibiotics available for clinical use has declined to 96 from a peak of 113 in 2000, with the rate of withdrawals being double the rate of new introductions. Pharmaceutical companies are leaving the antibiotic space due to financial constraints and patent law, forcing research universities to step in.
Rong Xu's research aims to automate identification of drug effects using artificial intelligence, data mining, and machine learning on thousands of existing drugs and over 100,000 diseases. Her approach could lead to a more efficient drug discovery process with a lower failure rate.
Researchers developed a new test that determines which drugs are unlikely to work by analyzing their structural similarity to naturally occurring substances. The 'rule of 0.5' shows a strong correlation between marketed drugs and metabolites, indicating that molecules with low similarity are unlikely to succeed.
Researchers predict near-future treatments for chronic diseases and aging, targeting underlying biological processes. Innovative business models and flexible regulations are needed to accelerate these advancements.
A study published in Nature Genetics has identified a genetic marker that increases the risk of pancreatitis in patients prescribed thiopurine drugs. Researchers found that 17% of patients with two copies of the marker are at high risk, four times more than those with one copy.
Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have discovered a new drug compound, TC-2153, that inhibits the negative effects of STEP protein, which is key to regulating learning and memory in Alzheimer's disease. Decreasing STEP levels reversed cognitive deficits in mice, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach for treating the condition.
A recent study found that 32% of newer drugs received a black box warning or were withdrawn for safety reasons, compared to 21.2% of older drugs. The study suggests that the FDA's expedited approval process may have led to the release of unsafe drugs.
A NUS study shows that artesunate, a common anti-malarial drug, can effectively control asthma with improved treatment outcomes and lesser side effects. The research reveals artesunate's ability to suppress airway inflammation and produce anti-inflammatory effects similar to those of dexamethasone.
Researchers have identified six potential therapeutics for H7N9 influenza by targeting the immune response rather than the virus. The study found that viruses causing severe illness trigger different gene expression signatures compared to milder infections.
A study by Xavier Salvatella and Modesto Orozco reveals the existence of information highways in proteins, enabling new sites for drug interaction. This discovery has the potential to improve drug efficiency and discovery.
A new tick-borne bacterium, Neoehrlichia, has been linked to six cases of disease in Sweden, posing a significant risk to people with weakened immune systems. Researchers found that those over 50 years old with haematological or rheumatic diseases undergoing immunosuppressive treatment are most vulnerable.
Researchers from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland discover a new anticancer compound, Cent-1, that kills cancer cells through a similar mechanism to Rigosertib. This breakthrough uses computer-assisted screening and cell-based assays to accelerate drug discovery and potentially lower development costs.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have found that thousands of polyene compounds can be built from just 12 different chemical building blocks. This breakthrough could accelerate the discovery and development of new medicines by making synthesis more efficient and cost-effective. The team's findings, published in Nature Chemistr...
Advances in biological imaging enable scientists to identify the most promising new drugs and rule out those unlikely to work, potentially improving the success rate of cancer medicines. Researchers are using this approach to streamline the drug discovery process, reducing costs and side effects.
Rutgers University has secured a five-year, $26 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to lead the development of new antibiotics. The research effort aims to combat rising cases of antibiotic-resistant infections, which claim at least 23,000 lives annually in the US.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine found that the anti-seizure drug ezogabine reduced alcohol consumption in an experimental model, providing a potential new mechanism for treating alcoholism. The study suggests that drugs targeting the Kv7 channel may be effective in reducing drinking behavior.