Chemists have developed a revolutionary new way to manufacture natural chemicals by clipping smaller molecules together like Lego. They have used the new method to assemble a scarce anti-inflammatory drug with potential to treat cancer and malaria, pseudopterosin.
“We took small molecules and clipped them together like Lego,” said lead researcher Professor Michael Sherburn, from the Research School of Chemistry.
“The building blocks are carefully designed in such a way that the first reaction generates a product perfectly primed for the second. It’s quite magical. This means you can efficiently build large and complex molecules.”
Medicines of this type have traditionally been made in a cumbersome way. Chemists take a related molecule and renovate it. This is a lengthy process, with unwanted structural features being ripped out and replaced.
“This leads to a lot of waste,” Professor Sherburn said.
The group trialed their innovative new method by making pseudopterosin, a powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug, which is currently only available in tiny quantities extracted from fan coral found in the Bahamas.
The work began as blue-sky research, with the researchers trying to work out a way to make supposedly impossible molecules of cross-conjugated hydrocarbons.
Before trying the experiments the team ran simulations on the Raijin supercomputer, which indicated that their method had potential.
“Ours is an empowering and enabling technique, allowing a smarter and faster way to make important substances,” said Dr Chris Newton, who did the research in the laboratory as a PhD student.
The Latest on: Manufacturing new drugs
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Manufacturing new drugs” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Manufacturing new drugs
- ‘This is the worst I’ve ever seen’ — Chemotherapy drug record shortage puts patients at riskon June 7, 2023 at 10:18 am
Cancer patients across the nation are put at risk as the country experiences a record-high shortage of cancer treatment drugs. “As of the end of March, about two dozen chemotherapy drugs were in ...
- New antitumour drug paves the way for chemotherapy and surgery-less treatmenton June 7, 2023 at 6:57 am
The drug seems to work well with chemotherapy and has a long-lasting effect till six months, as shown in mouse models where Z4P killed all cancer cells in the brain but spared the healthy cells.
- Everything you need to know about the drugs Ozempic and Wegovyon June 7, 2023 at 6:13 am
From how well they work to side effects such as hair loss, here’s the skinny on new weight loss injections that work by blocking a hormone that normally reduces appetite ...
- Fosun Pharma and IFC to build new drug manufacturing plant in Africaon June 7, 2023 at 5:30 am
Fosun Pharma has collaborated with IFC to build a new pharmaceutical production facility and distribution hub near Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
- We need some new drugson June 7, 2023 at 1:00 am
Shortages of medications like Adderall and children’s Tylenol highlight the risks that have been created by offshoring drug production.
- Merck’s Lawsuit Against Drug Price Controls Is Doomedon June 7, 2023 at 12:37 am
The pharmaceutical company says provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act violate the Constitution, but no judge is likely to agree.
- MGS Manufacturing buys Technolution A/Son June 6, 2023 at 1:39 pm
Healthcare and pharma manufacturer MGS Mfg. Group has acquired Denmark-based consultancy and development company Technolution A/S.
- Are drug shortages part of the new health care norm?on June 4, 2023 at 7:00 am
Drug shortages continue as Florida health care experts navigate what some expect to be the new normal of pharmacy.
- Beyond OpenAI: 7 promising startups that have saved lives, sped up drug development and improved manufacturingon June 3, 2023 at 12:19 pm
OpenAI is stealing the spotlight as the definitive AI startup, but other promising startups are making waves and generating buzz in Silicon Valley and beyond.
- FDA to Speed Up Review of New Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Drugon June 1, 2023 at 6:01 am
The Food and Drug Administration granted a priority review for fruquintinib for patients with pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer.
via Bing News