Articles tagged with Drug Discovery
A team of researchers at the University of Dundee has identified fexinidazole as a possible new treatment for visceral leishmaniasis, a disease affecting 500,000 people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The drug showed a greater than 98% rate of suppressing infection in mice, comparable to current treatments.
Italian researchers found a DNA sequence called enhancer HS1.2 that accelerates the activity of genes involved in Lupus, an autoimmune disease affecting 60,000 people in Italy. The discovery could lead to more effective therapies against severe cases of Lupus.
Researchers found that AICAR, an experimental therapy, protected animals from heat-induced sudden death and may hold promise for treating people with enhanced susceptibility to heat stroke. The drug works by reducing calcium leakage from RYR1, thus diminishing heat-induced contractions and muscle damage.
Sathyanaryanan Puthanveettil, a Scripps Research scientist, has been awarded two notable grants to study the critical component of long-term memory formation. He will investigate the role of kinesin in this process using the marine snail Aplysia.
The collaboration aims to build on Professor Susann Schweiger's discovery of the mechanism controlling disease-causing protein production. The project seeks to prevent toxic protein buildup in the brain and potentially provide a treatment for Huntington's Disease.
A NYBG scientist estimates that at least 540 to 653 new drugs could be discovered from plants, with potentially thousands more waiting to be evaluated. This analysis highlights the potential value of continuing to screen plants for novel bioactive compounds.
Researchers at Brown University have discovered a new compound that can defeat drug-resistant bacteria by blocking their efflux pumps. The compound, called BU-005, was found to inhibit the activity of two different families of drug-efflux pumps, one associated with Gram-positive bacteria and the other with Gram-negative bacteria.
A recent Van Andel Research Institute study found that decanoic acid acts as a modulator of PPAR receptors, which play a key role in glucose and lipid metabolism. The findings suggest that decanoic acid could be used to design better and safer PPARγ-based drugs for diabetes treatment.
A Scripps Research Institute scientist has successfully produced a simpler relative of Taxol called eudesmane and created a retrosynthesis pyramid to produce target compound. The researchers hope that the innovation will lead to understanding of nature's processes and develop more widely applicable techniques.
A collaborative research partnership between Institut Pasteur Korea and Sanofi aims to combat Hepatitis B by developing a high-throughput assay to screen chemical libraries for novel compounds. The goal is to identify inhibitors targeting specific steps in the viral life cycle, offering new insights into HBV mechanisms.
Scientists have discovered that Alzheimer's protein tangles involve at least three different proteins, including neurofilaments and vimentin, in addition to the previously identified tau protein. This discovery could lead to a better understanding of the disease's progression and potential new drug targets.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, have discovered a new process to manufacture ultra-low molecular weight heparin drug. The discovery uses chemicals and enzymes to reduce production steps from 50 to 10-12, increasing yield 500-fold and decreasing cost.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have discovered a potential treatment for autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), an inherited kidney disease affecting millions worldwide. The drug Leflunomide inhibits the STAT6 signaling pathway, which is activated in kidney cysts and leads to excessive cell growth.
Researchers found a molecule in intestinal cells that induces immune tolerance and reduces excessive immune reactions. This discovery has the potential to revolutionize treatment for autoimmune disorders such as asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, and Lupus.
Researchers have discovered a potential new treatment for EKC, a highly infectious eye disease affecting millions annually in the US. A molecular wipe targeting viruses responsible for EKC could relieve symptoms, speed up healing and reduce transmission risk.
SuviCa Inc. has partnered with the University of Colorado at Boulder to develop and commercialize a drug screening technology that identifies novel therapies for cancer treatments. The patented tool uses genetically modified Drosophila fruit flies to screen compounds effective against various types of cancer.
Researchers from National University of Singapore and Tsinghua University found that 88% of nature-derived drugs come from previously known drug-producing families. The study suggests focusing on these pre-existing families to discover new drugs, leveraging knowledge of clustered distribution patterns like oil fields.
The Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease has solved over 375 protein structures, providing a blueprint for fighting infectious disease. The center's work may lead to new drug therapies urgently needed to prevent outbreaks of multi-drug resistant and XDR strains of TB.
The U.S. Department of Energy's national laboratories enabled the discovery of a groundbreaking new drug treatment for malignant melanoma, with FDA-approved drug Zelboraf (vemurafenib) showing great promise in disrupting disease progression.
Langer's research launched the controlled-release drug industry, delivering advances in pharmaceuticals, chemical engineering, and medical devices to patients. His work also led to significant progress in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering to address organ shortages.
A new computational method using genomic information predicts new uses for existing medicines, including treating Crohn's disease with prednisolone and inflammatory bowel diseases with topiramate. This approach could improve treatments, save time and money, and provide insights into disease progression and drug mechanisms.
Researchers have discovered how TB drug pyrazinamide effectively shortens the required duration of TB therapy. The drug acts on latent TB bacteria that exist in an acidic environment, converting to its active form to bind and block vital protein RpsA, ultimately killing the bacteria.
Researchers discovered that when rats tasted fatty foods, cells in their upper gut produced endocannabinoids, triggering a surge in cell signaling that prompts overeating. The study suggests that obstructing endocannabinoid activity may curb this tendency, offering new potential treatments for obesity and related diseases.
A boron-based compound has shown safety and efficacy against stage 1 and 2 of the disease, with its oral formulation and short treatment duration promising for patient care. The collaboration between biotechs Anacor Pharmaceuticals and SCYNEXIS Inc., and not-for-profit DNDi, brings hope for a breakthrough in treating sleeping sickness.
Researchers identified six distinct subtypes of triple-negative breast cancer, each responding differently to chemotherapies. The study provides molecular targets for drug discovery and development efforts, offering hope for personalized therapy.
Researchers at University of Michigan developed a new way to search for drugs that target RNA, a molecule essential to retroviruses like HIV. They successfully predicted the binding of six new small molecules to HIV's genetic material and demonstrated their efficacy in inhibiting viral replication.
UBC researchers used an innovative method to uncover the molecular mechanism behind some anti-arrhythmia drugs, which control irregular heartbeats. The study found that variations in electrostatic interactions between the drugs and amino acids in the cardiac sodium channel affect their binding and effects.
Combination therapy of loperamide and minocycline may provide a safer method for treating devastating lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis. The approach could cut drug development time in half, offering new hope for those affected by this genetic disease.
Researchers identify small molecule blocking key protein involved in cholesterol production, successfully lowering cholesterol levels in isolated nerve cells and brain slices from mice. The discovery could lead to broader applications in other neurological conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
The article discusses the resurgence of covalent drugs, which have made a major positive impact on human health, and highlights the potential of rational covalent drug design to expand their use. Several rationally designed covalent inhibitors are advancing in clinical development, addressing problems of drug-resistance mutations.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have found that mucus can facilitate the penetration of toxic substances into cells, potentially leading to new treatments for diseases like cancer. The study suggests a new approach for delivering hydrophobic drugs, which could be absorbed through the lungs or digestive system.
The UCSF team identified a few dozen chemical compounds that alter fat storage in worms, which may be useful for understanding metabolism in other organisms. The discovery demonstrates the value of worm screening as a way to find new targets for human diseases.
Scientists have solved the three-dimensional structure of a key biological receptor, enabling chemists to design molecules for experimental drugs. This finding has the potential to expedite drug discovery in various areas, including arthritis, respiratory disorders, and wound healing.
Dr. A.K. Ganguly, a renowned pharmaceutical researcher, received the Topliss Award Lecture at the University of Michigan for his lifetime contributions to medicinal chemistry. His lecture discussed lessons learned in drug discovery, highlighting approaches taken at Schering-Plough and ongoing work at Stevens.
A team of researchers has discovered a new enzyme, squalene mono-oxygenase (SM), that plays a key role in cholesterol production. Inhibiting SM may lead to more effective treatments with fewer side effects than current medications.
Researchers found that public sector research played a significant role in discovering new drugs and vaccines, particularly those targeting cancer and infectious diseases. Over 30 years, 153 new FDA-approved drugs and vaccines were discovered through research conducted in public sector institutions.
Scientists have discovered an important insight into carbohydrate bonding, which could lead to improved medicines. The study reveals the shapes of carbohydrates when they are free from external influence and interacting with neighboring molecules.
Researchers have made significant breakthroughs in understanding how HIV mutates and evades treatment, providing new insights into developing better tests and treatments for patients. The study found that a specific mutation allows the virus to resist two main families of drugs, highlighting the need for tailored therapies.
A synthetic derivative of turmeric has been found to be highly neuroprotective against ischemic stroke and traumatic brain injury in animal models. The compound, CNB-001, improved behavioral and molecular deficits in both conditions, offering potential clinical promise for current treatment-limited diseases.
Researchers have successfully recreated the metabolic process of a critical enzyme responsible for breaking down drugs and nutrients. By trapping the enzyme at a specific stage, they gained insight into how people respond differently to certain chemicals, which could aid in developing more efficient drugs and household products.
Researchers linked hundreds of approved drugs to M. tuberculosis proteins, identifying new anti-tuberculosis targets and repurposing potential. The study provides a promising computational strategy for novel drug discovery.
A new Penn study has found a class of drug that can enter the brain and stabilize degenerating neurons in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease. The epothilone D class of microtubule-stabilizing drugs may offer hope for treatment by restoring microtubule tracks to their original supportive structure.
Researchers have identified a preclinical candidate that may slow the natural decline in memory associated with ageing. The new synthetic compound selectively blocks an enzyme involved in high levels of 'stress' steroid hormones, which are linked to memory loss.
Researchers at the University of Alberta have developed a drug that can reduce or eliminate airborne disease transmission when someone coughs. The new treatment uses a spray form and has shown promise in suppressing droplet emission from lung fluid.
Researchers have discovered that an enzyme called NOX4 produces hydrogen peroxide after a stroke, leading to nerve cell death. Inhibiting this enzyme with a new drug reduces brain damage and preserves brain functions in mice with stroke.
Researchers have discovered a novel compound that amplifies the effects of anandamide, a natural chemical in the body similar to THC found in marijuana. The synthetic drug URB937 inhibits FAAH enzyme, enhancing anandamide levels and producing analgesic effects without sedation or addiction.
The Open Source Drug Discovery (OSDD) Consortium is a worldwide scientific community working together to discover and develop new drugs. Key findings include the development of a comprehensive map of Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome, paving the way for a potential new drug for tuberculosis.
Two research teams discovered life-saving medications, JANUVIA for type 2 diabetes and CHANTIX for smoking cessation, enhancing people's ability to regulate blood sugar levels and reduce nicotine cravings. These treatments have helped millions worldwide, with CHANTIX being approved in 86 countries and over 7 million prescribed in the US.
A Yale team has discovered the secrets of a 'magic' antidepressant that can take effect in hours, rather than weeks or months. The study found that ketamine restores connections between brain cells damaged by chronic stress.
Researchers at the University of Strathclyde found that a substance called beeglue, originating from beehives in the Pacific region, was active against MRSA. The study isolated two compounds, Propolin C and Propolin D, which showed good activity against all MRSA strains tested.
Researchers at Neurocentre Magendie in Bordeaux found that addiction is caused by a persistent impairment of synaptic plasticity, leading to a permanent loss of the brain's ability to adapt and learn. This lack of plasticity results in compulsive consumption and loss of control over drug use.
A team of MIT chemists has designed a new way to attach trifluoromethyl groups to compounds, which could allow pharmaceutical companies to create and test new drugs faster and more efficiently. The new synthesis uses a palladium catalyst and achieved yields ranging from 70 to 94 percent.
The TB Alliance has made significant progress in developing new TB drugs, with three co-developed by the organization and its partners, and two others currently being tested through the Critical Path to TB Regimens (CPTR) initiative.
Researchers have discovered high-activity mutants of human butyrylcholinesterase that could be used to develop anti-cocaine medication. Additionally, a microbiocide-based HIV prevention measure holds promise for developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
Researchers have developed compounds that inhibit bacterial enzymes with longer residence times, correlating with improved in vivo activity. This discovery may lead to the development of agents for non-invasive bacterial imaging using positron emission tomography.
The Wellcome Trust extends its Seeding Drug Discovery initiative with a £110 million investment over five years. This support enables the progression of promising drug discovery projects to attract follow-on investors and develop novel medicines.
Scientists are developing new medications to block abnormal clumps of amyloid-beta protein in the brain, which may slow Alzheimer's disease progression. Clinical trials could lead to new treatments within 5-10 years if successful.
Scientists have identified a new approach to tackling human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness. A valid drug target has been found and leads for orally administered drugs have been identified, showing promise for effective treatment of the disease.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have discovered that the old drug closantel may be useful in combating river blindness by inhibiting the molting process of the parasite. This finding holds tremendous potential for the treatment of this neglected tropical disease, which affects over 37 million people.
A consortium of scientists, including top researchers from academic institutions and pharmaceutical companies, is developing new methods for drug discovery in depression and schizophrenia. The project aims to overcome bottlenecks such as lack of accurate animal models and symptom-based diagnostic categories.