Therapeutics

LMTK3 inhibitors could be an effective breast cancer therapy, say scientists

16 November 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review)

Researchers demonstrate that inhibiting the LMTK3 kinase is an effective anticancer strategy in murine models of breast cancer.

Scientists unveil virtual reality tool for COVID-19 drug development

13 November 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review)

The tool uses interactive molecular dynamics simulations in virtual reality (iMD-VR) to allow researchers to step inside SARS-CoV-2 enzymes and visualise molecules binding to them.

Researchers dicover novel targets for rheumatoid arthritis therapies

13 November 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review)

Researchers have identified that autoreactive B cells and a protein that enables them to invade joints could be promising drug targets for the most common inflammatory arthritis.

Developing nanobodies and sybodies to combat COVID-19

13 November 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review)

Three separate studies have identified nanobodies – a miniature form of antibodies found in camelid species – that can bind to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein and neutralise the virus in cells.

Novel nanoparticle therapy shows promise in glioblastoma

11 November 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review)

The synthetic protein nanoparticle can cross the blood-brain barrier and deliver a targeted therapeutic to glioblastoma cells, say researchers.

Researchers develop ACE2 decoy to neutralise SARS-CoV-2

10 November 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review)

Using their de novo protein design strategy, researchers engineered human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) protein decoys that can protect cells from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Novel antibody-drug candidate to treat pancreatic cancer developed

10 November 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review)

Scientists have developed a new antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), made from ICAM1, an antibody that targets pancreatic cancer and the cytotoxic drug DM1 (mertansine).

Inflammatory bowel disease drugs could combat COVID-19, study suggests

6 November 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review)

Anti-inflammatory therapies for inflammatory bowel disease could aid recovery from COVID-19 as they target an enzyme involved in both diseases.

Developing drugs for disordered proteins

6 November 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review)

Scientists have developed a drug-like molecule to target amyloid-beta, a disordered protein implicated in Alzheimer's disease that has been considered undruggable.

Protease inhibitor aprotinin shows promise against SARS-CoV-2 in cells

5 November 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review)

Researchers have found that aprotinin, an approved drug for influenza in Russia, combats SARS-CoV-2 in cells.

Novel therapeutic approach shows promise in mice with COPD

5 November 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review)

By blocking the lymphotoxin beta receptor signalling pathway, researchers were able to prevent COPD progression and induce a full restoration of lung tissue.

Age may be a primary determinant of melanoma treatment resistance

4 November 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review)

Scientists have shown that age may cause genetically identical melanoma skin cancer cells to respond differently to treatment, making age a primary factor in treatment response.

Researchers develop novel class of cancer immunotherapy

30 October 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review)

The scientists developed a therapy which uses nanobiologics to train the innate immune system to recognise and combat cancer cells.

Thermo Fisher Scientific – Synthetic Biology

Treating cytokine storms in COVID-19 patients

23 October 2020 | By Dr Fiona McCann (CannBioRx Life Sciences), Dr H Michael Shepard (Enosi Life Sciences), Sir Marc Feldmann (Enosi Life Sciences)

Enosi Life Science researchers Sir Marc Feldmann, Dr H Michael Shepard and Dr Fiona McCann explain why anti-TNF therapies may be effective in treating COVID-19 associated cytokine storms and other inflammatory conditions.