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UrduWith the end of the pandemic seemingly nowhere in sight, scientists are still very focused on finding new or alternative drugs to treat and stop the spread of COVID-19. In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers at the University of New Hampshire have found that using an already existing drug compound in a new way, known as drug repurposing, could be successful in blocking the activity of a key enzyme of the coronavirus, or SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19.
Tag: Drug Development
Harrington Discovery Institute Invites Proposals for 2023 Harrington UK Rare Disease Scholar Award
Harrington Discovery Institute® at University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio, and its registered UK charity Fund for Cures UK, Ltd. (Fund for Cures UK) have issued a call for proposals for the 2023 Harrington UK Rare Disease Scholar Award. In addition to grant funding, Harrington Discovery provides guidance and oversight in drug development, while intellectual property is retained by the scholar and their institution.
Good news on blocking a virus considered a global threat
Scientists have reported good news on the pandemic preparedness front: A cocktail of four manufactured antibodies is effective at neutralizing a virus from the Henipavirus family, a group of pathogens considered to be a global biosecurity threat.
New Model for Antibacterial Mechanism
Biologists have discovered an aberrant protein that’s deadly to bacteria. The discovery could help scientists unravel the lethal mechanism of certain antibiotics—and potentially point the way to future antibacterial drugs.
A Target for Potential Cancer Drugs May, In Fact, Worsen Disease
Researchers reveal a previously unrealized complexity in cancer development, one that raises concerns and caution about targeting an enzyme popular in oncological treatments.
$6.5M Grant Awarded to Develop Treatment for Alcoholic Liver Disease-Associated Kidney Dysfunction
The Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and MitoPower LLC were awarded an Small Business Innovation Research grant of $6.5 million from the NIH’s National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to develop a treatment for alcoholic liver disease-associated hepatorenal syndrome.
Rethinking Remdesivir
UC San Diego researchers modify remdesivir, creating oral version that can be taken earlier in COVID-19 diagnoses. In cell and animal studies, revised drug proved effective and safe.
UIC awarded $6 million to develop potential COVID-19 treatment
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago are developing a potential treatment for COVID-19, thanks to a $6 million technology and therapeutic development award from the U.S. Department of Defense supporting pre-clinical animal studies.
Mount Sinai Researchers Develop Novel Therapy That Could Be Effective in Many Cancers
Mount Sinai researchers have developed a therapeutic agent that shows high effectiveness in vitro at disrupting a biological pathway that helps cancer survive, according to a paper published in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, in July.
Novel Method Predicts if COVID-19 Clinical Trials Will Fail or Succeed
Researchers are the first to model COVID-19 completion versus cessation in clinical trials using machine learning algorithms and ensemble learning. They collected 4,441 COVID-19 trials from ClinicalTrials.gov to build a testbed with 693 dimensional features created to represent each clinical trial. These computational methods can predict whether a COVID-19 clinical trial will be completed or terminated, withdrawn or suspended. Stakeholders can leverage the predictions to plan resources, reduce costs, and minimize the time of the clinical study.
Blocking how the malaria parasite suppresses the immune response
The parasites that cause severe malaria are well-known for the sinister ways they infect humans, but new research may lead to drugs that could block one of their most reliable weapons: interference with the immune response.
How Cells “Read” Artificial Ingredients Tossed into Genetic Recipe
UC San Diego School of Medicine researchers discovered that the enzyme RNA polymerase II recognizes and transcribes artificially added base pairs in genetic code, a new insight that could help advance the development of new vaccines and medicines.
Memory Biomarkers Confirm Aerobic Exercise Helps Cognitive Function in Older Adults
Until now, systemic biomarkers to measure exercise effects on brain function and that link to relevant metabolic responses were lacking. A study shows a memory biomarker, myokine Cathepsin B (CTSB), increased in older adults following a 26-week structured aerobic exercise training. The positive association between CTSB and cognition, and the substantial modulation of lipid metabolites implicated in dementia, support the beneficial effects of exercise training on brain function and brain health in asymptomatic individuals at risk for Alzheimer’s.
Common Diabetes Drug Shows Promise as Treatment for COVID-19 Lung Inflammation
Researchers identify molecular mechanism for the anti-inflammatory activity of diabetes drug metformin and, in mouse studies, say it prevents lung inflammation in animals infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
UIC research paves way for next-generation of crystalline material screening devices
Researchers have developed a novel continuous-flow microfluidic device that may help scientists and pharmaceutical companies more effectively study drug compounds and their crystalline shapes and structures.
Improved method for generating synthetic data solves major privacy issues in research
Researchers at the Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence have developed a machine learning-based method that produces synthetic data, making it possible for researchers to share even sensitive data with one other without privacy concerns.
First Peek at RNA Binding and Translation in Single Cells May Inform Drug and Vaccine Design
UC San Diego School of Medicine researchers have developed a new approach — called Surveying Targets by APOBEC-Mediated Profiling (STAMP) — to measure what has until now been largely invisible: how RNA-binding proteins and ribosomes interact with RNA molecules within…
PsychLight Sensor to Enable Discovery of New Psychiatric Drugs
UC Davis researchers develop PsychLight, a sensor that could be used in discovering new treatments for mental illness, in neuroscience research and to detect drugs of abuse.
Texas A&M AgriLife Research study to focus on amino-acid radicals
Texas A&M AgriLife Research will study the function of amino-acid radicals, which are fundamental to both beneficial and harmful chemical reactions in living organisms.
Capitalizing on measles vaccine’s successful history to protect against SARS-CoV-2
A new SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate, developed by giving a key protein’s gene a ride into the body while encased in a measles vaccine, has been shown to produce a strong immune response and prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and lung disease in multiple animal studies.
Cancer Cell Vulnerability Points to Potential Treatment Path for Aggressive Disease
New findings, reported in Nature Communications, describe the discovery of a unique dependence of cancer cells on a particular protein, which could lead to desperately needed treatment for hard-to-treat cancers.
Study Identifies Never-Before-Seen Dual Function in Enzyme Critical for Cancer Growth
In developing therapies for hard-to-treat breast and ovarian cancers in patients with BRCA gene mutations, scientists aim to identify ways to keep cancer cells from using DNA break repair pathways. New findings demonstrate a previously-unknown capability for polymerase theta (pol theta) – a key enzyme in this repair function – that shows promise as a new avenue for treatment development.
New drug target for Ebola, Marburg viruses
Researchers have identified a previously unknown site on the filovirus glycoprotein to which small drug molecules can bind and prevent infection — blocking both sites may be more a more effective treatment with reduced risk of side effects.
Science Begins at Brookhaven Lab’s New Cryo-EM Research Facility
On January 8, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory welcomed the first virtually visiting researchers to the Laboratory for BioMolecular Structure (LBMS), a new cryo-electron microscopy facility.
NYU, Columbia, and Takeda Form Research Alliance for Gastrointestinal and Liver Disorders
New York University, Columbia University, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (“Takeda”) have formed a collaborative research alliance to begin and advance gastroenterology research programs, with the goal of developing new therapies for patients with gastrointestinal and liver disorders.
New Model of Tuberculosis Will Speed Search for New Vaccines, Therapies
A team from Seattle Children’s Research Institute has developed an improved mouse model for tuberculosis that replicates characteristics of the human disease not possible in other available models. The ultra-low dose model, named that because mice are infected with 1-3…
UB spinoff Cytocybernetics receives funding to accelerate COVID-19 drug screening
University at Buffalo spinoff Cytocybernetics is developing a high-tech tool called CyberQ to rapidly assess whether or not investigational COVID-19 drugs have arrhythmogenic properties that can result in sudden cardiac death.
HIV drugs could prevent diabetes, study suggests
Patients taking drugs called NRTIs to treat HIV and hepatitis B had a 33% lower risk of developing diabetes.
EMBARGOED: Genetic study of proteins is a breakthrough in drug development for complex diseases
An innovative genetic study of blood protein levels, led by researchers in the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit (MRC-IEU) at the University of Bristol, has demonstrated how genetic data can be used to support drug target prioritisation by identifying the causal effects of proteins on diseases.
Experimental vaccine that boosts antigen production shows promise against COVID-19
A bioengineering technique to boost production of specific proteins could be the basis of an effective vaccine against the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, new research suggests.
Guilt by Dissociation: Study Sheds Light on Serotonin in Autism
A study on serotonin, a mood-regulating molecule in the brain that regulates many brain synapses, is helping to unravel the puzzle surrounding its role in autism. The activity and regulation of the serotonin transporter (SERT), protein is critically dependent on a number of other proteins that tell the protein where to locate on nerve cells and how to act. Shifts in the transporter’s activity can significantly impact the ability of serotonin to act in the brain.
New Treatment Developed by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Shows Success in High-Risk Solid Tumors
In a breakthrough study, researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have shown that an enhanced treatment developed in their lab leads to long-term remissions in 80% to 100% of mice with drug-resistant or high-risk solid tumors. The research, which could soon lead to clinical trials, is described in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Contraceptive developed at UIC approved by FDA, offers new option for women
A first-of-its-kind contraceptive developed at the University of Illinois Chicago has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The new contraceptive, called Phexxi, is a non-hormonal vaginal gel that can be used on-demand to prevent pregnancy.
Ready to Join the Fight Against COVID-19
UPTON, NY—On July 29, 2020 the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory opened a new cryo-electron microscopy center, the Laboratory for BioMolecular Structure (LBMS), with an initial focus on COVID-19-related research. This state-of-the-art research center for life sciences imaging offers researchers access to advanced cryo-electron microscopes (cryo-EM)—funded by NY State—for studying complex proteins, as well as the architecture of cells and tissues.
A New Approach to Tailoring Cancer Therapy: Tapping Into Signaling Activities in Cancer Cells
The Weizmann Institute’s Dr. Ravid Straussman and colleagues developed a method that utilizes cellular signaling to determine the best treatment for a given tumor. The method can help tailor treatments and identify new drug-development targets. In fact, the team has already singled out a gene that serves as a target for treating BRCA-related breast cancers.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Awards and Appointments
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) announces its most recent awards and appointments for the institution’s physicians, scientists, nurses, and staff.
UTEP Research Reveals More About Path Bacterial Pathogen Travels to Cause Tuberculosis
Jianjun Sun, Ph.D., associate professor in UTEP’s Department of Biological Sciences, led the research on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Sun’s lab has been investigating the mechanisms of Mtb pathogenesis for more than 10 years at UTEP with a specific focus on EsxA, which is a virulence factor essential for Mtb virulence and a preferred target for developing novel anti-TB drugs and vaccines.
Poseidon Innovation Announces Funding for Three UC San Diego Researchers
UC San Diego and Deerfield Management created Poseidon Innovation to support researchers working to advance disease-curing therapeutics by funding early stage projects and expediting the drug-development cycle. Poseidon announces it is funding three researchers.
Cancer Research Institute and IQVIA Uncover the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Oncology Clinical Trials
New study reveals impact of COVID-19 pandemic on cancer clinical trials, published in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery
Aggressive Prostate Cancer Marked by Abnormal RNA Splicing, Roswell Park Team Reveals
Aggressive forms of prostate cancer don’t act the way they should, hanging on to genetic materials called introns that should be thrown away, researchers from Roswell Park reported today in Nature Communications.
Less Addictive Form of Buprenorphine May Help Curb Cocaine Relapse
New research performed in mice suggests that chemical modifications to buprenorphine can improve its effectiveness to treat cocaine addiction while minimizing abuse potential.
Search for drugs effective against COVID-19 includes UAB and Southern Research
The University of Alabama at Birmingham will join an international effort coordinated by Scripps Research to test drugs for COVID-19. The work centers around ReFRAME, a vast collection of drugs developed for other diseases that are already known to be safe for humans.
‘Rushed’ Drug Development that Aims to Refill Pharma Firms’ Pipelines Is Less Likely to Succeed Because of Inter-organizational Friction
When a large pharmaceutical company experiences a drug trial failure and then tries to refill its pipeline by licensing a product created by another firm, such a “rushed innovation” is less likely to bring a product to market than one developed under normal, less hurried conditions. That’s because the hastily drawn licensing agreement between the two organizations leads to friction that drags development work to a halt.
SLAC joins the global fight against COVID-19
The lab is responding to the coronavirus crisis by imaging disease-related biomolecules, developing standards for reliable coronavirus testing and enabling other essential research.
University of Kentucky Researcher Leads First Human Study of Drug Targeting Brain Inflammation
A study examining MW189 in healthy adult volunteers was performed by a collaborative team from the University of Kentucky, Duke University and Northwestern University. The work by Van Eldik and the rest of the team is substantial as it is the first time MW189 had been tested in humans.
Aversion to Risk by R&D Managers May Hurt U.S. Economic Prospects
While concerns loom over an impending recession caused by the spread of COVID-19, policymakers and business leaders have implemented radical strategies, such as slashing interest rates to invigorate the U.S.’s weakened economy. Research and Development (R&D) has long been key in the nation’s economic prospects and according to new research from the University of California San Diego, the country’s ability to maintain its competitive edge in this area largely depends on managers in R&D being less averse to risk.
Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals Opens Call for 2021 Harrington Scholar-Innovator Award
An announcement that the Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals is accepting letters of intent for the 2021 Harrington Scholar-Innovator Award. The award offers inventive physician-scientists resources and expertise to advance their discoveries into medicines.
Metabolic Pathway Can Be Effectively Targeted to Treat Prostate Cancer, Roswell Park Team Shows
A Roswell Park team has identified a new strategy for treating prostate cancer — the first to target metabolic processes uniquely important to prostate cancer.
Study sheds light on how a drug being tested in COVID-19 patients works
As hospitalized COVID-19 patients undergo experimental therapy, research published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry explains how the drug, remdesivir, stops replication in coronaviruses.
Major Asian Gene Study to Help Doctors Battle Disease
“Under-representation of Asian populations in genetic studies has meant that medical relevance for more than half of the human population is reduced,” one researcher said.