Articles tagged with Drug Discovery
A Scripps Research study found that environmental cues learned during withdrawal are more powerful than those learned during the early phases of alcohol use, leading to more irresistible cravings. This discovery could lead to new treatments to minimize cravings in people with addictions.
Scientists at Scripps Research developed a new method called CATCH to image where drugs bind to their targets across different tissues and with higher precision than ever before. This technique allows for better understanding of why one drug is more potent or has a particular side effect compared to another.
Researchers at MIT developed an AI method that constrains machine-learning models to suggest molecules with producible chemical structures. The approach guarantees quality and speed, outperforming existing methods in proposing high-quality molecular structures.
Researchers at Tokyo University of Science discovered that disulfiram inhibits FROUNT protein and chemokine signaling pathways, reducing anxiety levels in mice. The study suggests a potential breakthrough anti-anxiety medication with safe and effective treatment for elderly patients suffering from anxiety and insomnia.
Researchers at University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University have discovered a new receptor, Ptprd, that controls appetite and body weight. The receptor trap drug suppresses appetite, body weight, and blood glucose levels in obese mice.
Scientists have identified a potential new antibiotic candidate from the rare soil microbe Lentzea flaviverrucosa. The discovery was made using genomics-based approaches and shows that this actinomycete produces two different bioactive molecules that are active against various types of cancer cells.
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 at CU Cancer Center have developed a lead drug that inhibits the oncogene CHD1L, a chromatin remodeling enzyme that aids tumor progression and metastasis in many cancer types. The drug, called 6.11, has shown promising biological activity against CHD1L.
Researchers have captured the first real-time signaling cascade of a wild-type receptor in its native membrane environment using mass spectrometry. The study reveals the impact of lipids on rhodopsin signaling and regeneration, demonstrating potential new targets for therapeutic value in the visual system.
A breakthrough discovery has identified a novel approach to tackle metabolic diseases by inhibiting a liver enzyme that regulates appetite and energy expenditure. The treatment, which stabilizes key proteins in the blood, resulted in significant weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity in obese mice.
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.
Scientists have discovered a shapeshifting volcano virus with remarkable properties that let it alter its shape. This finding could lead to new ways to deliver drugs and vaccines, with implications for understanding how viruses evolved and potentially creating new technologies.
Researchers at Insilico Medicine have used AI to identify potential targets that are implicated in multiple age-related diseases and also play a role in the basic biology of aging. The study resulted in the identification of 69 high-confidence targets with potential high druggability.
Researchers developed an AI-driven image analysis pipeline that identified novel cellular hallmarks of Parkinson's disease from images of over a million skin cells. The platform can distinguish between patient cells and healthy controls, revealing new signatures for potential therapeutic targets.
The Experimental Biology (EB) 2022 meeting features live presentations and a moderated Q&A session on groundbreaking studies. The virtual press conference reveals potential treatments for Parkinson's disease, COVID-19 vaccine-associated side effects, and alleviating food allergies.
A new study from the University of Copenhagen suggests that the poison from the sea snail species Conus rolani can function as a painkiller, blocking out pain in mice for an even longer time than morphine. This discovery offers a potential alternative to addictive painkillers like morphine and opioids.
Researchers develop an eco-friendly organic catalyst system that improves the production of organic molecules from pyruvate, a key biomolecule in metabolic pathways. The catalyst promotes reactions where pyruvate donates electrons to produce molecules like amino acids.
Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a novel technology to monitor membrane protein trafficking in real-time using bioluminescence. This allows for the study of cellular processes and drug development for heart disease, metabolic disorders, cancer, infectious diseases, COVID-19, and others.
Researchers found that the Pfizer antiviral drug Paxlovid still quashes COVID by targeting a key protein involved in replicating the virus. The study also identified signs of emerging mutations, indicating an urgent need for new drugs to combat potential resistance.
Researchers have discovered a streamlined method for synthesizing novel neuroactive compounds found in the bark of Galbulimima trees, which may lead to new psychiatric and neurological drugs. The new approach enables easy synthesis at scale, paving the way for further study of these compounds' biological effects.
Researchers at NTU Singapore have developed a novel drug delivery system using protein-based microdroplets that can bypass the cell membrane and deliver biomacromolecules effectively. This breakthrough enables faster, safer, and more effective treatments for diseases such as cancer and metabolic disorders.
The ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group has opened a new treatment arm in the NCI-MATCH trial for patients with DNA mismatch repair deficiency and LAG-3 expression. The trial is evaluating two immunotherapy combinations: relatlimab plus nivolumab and dabrafenib plus trametinib, both targeting BRAF mutations.
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.
The CSD-Materials suite provides a comprehensive analysis of solid form properties, helping researchers explore intra- and intermolecular interactions. The suite's components, including Hydrogen Bond Propensity, Full Interaction Maps, and Aromatics Analyser, aid in identifying potential co-former or solvent interactions for new APIs.
Researchers have designed a fast-acting injectable insulin based on the venom of the Conus kinoshitai marine snail, which doesn't form clusters like human insulin. The new hybrid insulin holds promise for better diabetes control with faster action and reduced clustering.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals the precise molecular structure of siponimod, a multiple sclerosis drug, and its interactions with S1P receptors. This knowledge may lead to the development of more targeted therapies that reduce side effects.
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.
Researchers found a human receptor protein detecting amino acids in the same way as bacteria, leading to potential enhancements of GABA-based drugs. This discovery adds to the sparse evidence of commonalities between bacteria and humans in sensing essential components.
Pharmaceutical firms are working towards using machine learning to analyze vast stores of data, developing models that evolve and improve as the data are processed. However, experts agree that a fully functional end-to-end approach is still a ways off due to biology's complexity.
A new study found that cashew stem bark extract inhibits abnormal gut motility associated with diarrhea, revealing a potential low-cost remedy for treating and managing the condition. The extract's mechanism of action involves blocking muscarinic acetylcholine receptors responsible for gastrointestinal motility.
Researchers discovered how a single mutation in an enzyme enables bacteria to evade antibiotics by using mirrored structures. This finding has implications for developing more resilient inhibitors and proactive drug designs.
Researchers at NTU Singapore have developed a new method to generate sulphur pharmacophores, which are crucial for drug discovery. The method uses a catalyst called pentanidium and can produce multiple variations of pharmacophores, making the process more efficient and fruitful.
The University of South Florida has received a five-year, $1.35 million NIH institutional grant to train scientists in vascular inflammation and injury research. The grant will support the comprehensive training of pre- and postdoctoral scientists focused on this emerging area of research.
Researchers discovered increased activity in the hippocampus during anesthesia and sleep, preceding Alzheimer's symptoms by years. This abnormality may enable early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Localis-rex identifies 32 locale-specific sensor proteins sensing hydroxynonenal, a lipid-derived electrophilic-metabolite, revealing new information on electrophile signaling and its impact on biological processes. The study also highlights the potential for covalent drug design and profiling of drug-sensitive cells.
Researchers identified water molecules' impact on protein dynamics and drug target residence time, suggesting that a long target residence time can be important for drug efficacy. This understanding enables more rational drug design in the early stages of drug discovery projects.
Researchers develop a method called Cell Painting that uses morphological profiling to detect side effects of substances on cells, enabling the identification of tubulin-modulating compounds. The study reveals over 1% of tested substances have this effect, including previously unknown reference substances.
A team of scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory has identified a molecule with significant potential to disable the COVID-19 virus. The molecule was discovered using high-throughput virtual screening and laboratory experiments, and its ability to bind to the virus's main protease was confirmed through structural studies.
Roswell Biotechnologies has developed a molecular electronics sensor on a semiconductor chip, enabling real-time detection of single molecules for diverse applications including drug discovery, diagnostics, and DNA sequencing. The platform offers unlimited scalability in sensor pixel density and high resolution measurements.
Researchers at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine have created an antibody with an engineered peptide that effectively targets and attacks bone tumors in breast cancer. The study shows the therapeutic efficacy is best when a moderate amount of the drug compound is delivered, offering new hope for treating bone metastases.
A retrospective analysis of 13 clinical trials found that most combination therapies involving immune checkpoint inhibitors worked due to independent drug action, rather than synergy or additivity. This discovery has implications for cancer clinical trial design and may help improve treatment outcomes.
Physicists at the University of Bath and Michigan discover a new photonic effect in semiconducting nanohelices, accelerating drug discovery and development. The effect enables chirality measurement in tiny volumes, potentially revolutionizing high-throughput screening for life-saving medicines.
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.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have developed a new method for analyzing pyroptosis, a process of cell death previously thought to be irreversible. By using optogenetic gasdermin, they found that certain conditions can trigger pores to close within tens of seconds, suggesting the process dynamically self-regulates.
Researchers have solved the mystery of how praziquantel works, a key to treating schistosomiasis. The discovery highlights new opportunities for drug development and may help combat this debilitating disease affecting over a billion people worldwide.
Researchers devised a novel approach to unify quality assessment of generic drugs developed through different processes. The 'population pharmaceutical quality assessment' method uses computational modeling to evaluate process information, providing a scientific tool for objective quality consistency evaluation.
Researchers create plan for proactively developing drug cocktails against virus families, aiming to provide effective treatments in weeks, not months. The approach prioritizes combination therapy to reduce disease spread and limit viral adaptation.
Researchers found that certain bacteria in the human microbiome can produce an enzyme called acarbose kinase, which renders acarbose inactive. This enzyme is present in three major categories of oral and gut bacteria and may make people resistant to the antidiabetic drug.
Researchers found that Botox-treated patients reported anxiety significantly less often than those undergoing different treatments for similar conditions. The data used was from the FDA's Adverse Effect Reporting System and showed a 22-72% lower risk of anxiety for four out of eight conditions and injection sites.
The reNEW Center aims to harness therapeutic potential in stem cell medicine for incurable diseases, with a focus on translation and collaboration. Scientists will work together to develop new treatments and therapies.
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 at PSI have developed a platform to measure biased signalling in G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), enabling selective therapeutic effects and fewer side effects. By testing specially designed bivalent ligands, they can bias signalling towards desired pathways.
Scientists have discovered new targets for insecticides by analyzing the structure of potassium channels in Drosophila. The study provides a detailed map of the channel, enabling the design of highly selective and safe insecticides.
Researchers have discovered that a common class of targeted therapies can help more colorectal cancer patients than previously thought. By analyzing cell studies and computer modeling, the team identified 10 distinct RAS mutations that do not preclude the use of EGFR inhibitors, which are already approved for other uses.
Scientists have discovered a new potential treatment to reverse antibiotic resistance in bacteria causing sepsis, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections. The indole carboxylates class of enzyme blockers can stop MBL resistance enzymes from working, allowing antibiotics like carbapenems to effectively target bacteria.
Vanderbilt researchers discover how a protein may treat schizophrenia, including reversing working memory deficits. Enhancing the activity of mGlu1 selectively increases the activity of specific inhibitory interneurons, restoring their ability to inhibit neuronal circuits.
A doctoral student at Texas A&M University has discovered blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOECs) as an alternative to induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs) for organs-on-chips, offering a cheaper and more accessible option for patient-specific research. The new cells can be isolated from just 50-100 milliliters of blood and have sh...
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed water-walking liquid robots that can retrieve and deliver precious chemicals autonomously. The robots use chemistry to control buoyancy and do not require electrical energy, making them ideal for applications such as chemical synthesis and drug delivery.
An experimental drug called NAP has been found effective in treating a broad spectrum of symptoms related to autism, intellectual disability, and Alzheimer's disease. Researchers discovered that NAP normalizes brain function in mice modeling ADNP syndrome, a rare disorder linked to these conditions.