A new drug devised by Prof. Eldar-Finkleman of Tel Aviv University may slow down Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases.
No doubt about it: the science of biology is slowly evolving into bio-engineering. In the past few centuries, mankind was mostly limited to research of biology. Now that we’ve come to understand many of the basic facts of life, we can transform this knowledge into action by ‘building’ new drugs, molecules and even genes.
One of the best examples of this new approach is Prof. Hagit Eldar-Finkelman of Tel Aviv University’s Sackler School of Medicine. She’s currently constructing a new drug, L803-MTS, to treat a number of central nervous system (CNS) diseases like Alzheimer’s. According to Tel Aviv University, this drug also shows promise against Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and diabetes in pre-clinical studies.
Prof. Eldar-Finkleman and her colleagues designed the drug, like engineers constructing a building, to lock onto the GSK3 protein that plays a causative role in insulin resistance and type II diabetes. By grabbing hold of the GSK3 protein, the drug renders it harmless and unable to wreak havoc inside the body. Pre-clinical results have been positive, and the new drug does not exhibit dangerous toxic side effects. And while L803-MTS cannot reverse the onset of a CNS disease once it has started, Prof. Eldar-Finkleman believes it can slow down the devastating effects of CNS diseases, like impaired memory and depression, or insulin-resistance.
Armed with seed money from Ramot, Tel Aviv University’s technology transfer arm, Prof. Eldar-Finkleman is currently seeking a strategic partner to guide the research through the clinical process and eventual commercialization. She believes the new drug will be a lead compound for treating CNS disorders, “because it was based on rational drug design. We started from scratch and thought through the design of a specific compound that would be safe and effective. Our aim is to slow the progression of CNS diseases, but the new drug might also be used as a preventative therapy,” she adds.
Source (American Friends of Tel Aviv University)
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