Gene therapy could cure Danon disease, life-threatening genetic condition 19 March 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review) Researchers have shown a gene therapy to correct the genetic mutation that causes Danon disease is successful in pre-clinical trials.
Ion channel ball-and-chain mechanism imaged after decades of attempts 19 March 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review) Scientists have imaged the ball-and-chain mechanism using cryogenic electron microscopy and hope their work could be applied in the design of novel therapeutics.
Structure of lipin enzyme responsible for triglycerides revealed for first time 18 March 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review) Researchers have obtained the crystal structure of the lipin enzyme, the regulator of triglyceride production, which they say could inform research into heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
Artificial binding protein could be developed into a novel anti-viral or cancer therapy 18 March 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review) Scientists have created an artificial protein able to recognise and bind cell surface carbohydrates with high affinity and selectivity.
Interleukin-2 interactions revealed by researchers to aid in drug design 18 March 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review) Using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, a study has shown that IL-2 can stimulate both effector T cells and regulatory T cells by adopting different structural forms.
Novel cryo-EM technology developed using holography 18 March 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review) Researchers have created a new cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) technique by utilising low-energy electrons in a holographic method.
CRISPR RNA-targeted genetic screen could be used for COVID-19 therapy 18 March 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review) A new Cas13 RNA screen has been used to establish guide RNAs for the COVID-19 coronavirus and human RNA segments which could be used in vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.
Collaboration to co-develop antibody products for treating COVID-19 17 March 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review) AbCellera and Eli Lilly have announced their partnership to develop, manufacture and distribute antibody treatments for the COVID-19 coronavirus.
CRISPR development enables simultaneous gene editing 17 March 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review) Using a combination of Cas9 and Cas12a, Canadian researchers have enabled CRISPR methods to edit multiple genes at the same time.
Drug candidate stops tumour growth with little toxicity in mice 17 March 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review) A star-shaped molecule along with a modified platinum drug have demonstrated success at combatting tumours with few toxic effects in mice.
Software able to screen up to 1.4 billion compounds developed 17 March 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review) New in silico screening software has the capability to screen billions of compounds, with the hope of improving drug design and limiting side effects.
Mapping the immune response to COVID-19 17 March 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review) Researchers reveal that a broad range of immune cells react to COVID-19 and aid recovery, findings which could inform the development of a potential vaccine.
New drug discovery centre with screening capabilities opens in Australia 16 March 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review) The National Drug Discovery Centre (NDDC) has opened in Australia, with support from the government to subsidise the screening of medicinal compounds.
Inactivated human muscarinic receptors used in new screening method 16 March 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review) Researchers have developed a new screening technique by inactivating the molecular structure of the human muscarinic receptor, allowing them to test potential drugs.
Novel biocompatible microparticles can be created using heat and light 16 March 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review) Scientists have demonstrated an innovative technique for creating microparticles for tissue engineering out of a combination of disordered and partially ordered proteins.
