Drug Hunter

Drug Hunters in Denver! Another FANTASTIC evening with a fascinating group of stellar drug hunters in Denver! Got to hear stories from several hundreds years of collective drug discovery experience, including from one of the inventors of the first antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), pioneers of first-in-class molecules against KRAS and other targets, and more. Great to see folks from all over the world come in and hear their inspiring stories. Thank you for all who stayed out this evening Jennifer Allen, Bernhard Fasching, Julia Haas, Wendy Young, Denise Grünenfelder, Zhonghua Pei, Christa Müller, Philippe Mochirian, Anil Padyana, Claude Q., Michael Deligny, Jonathan Hempel, Jie Jack Li, Josh Haimson, Eric Newcomb, Magid Abou-Gharbia, and special thanks our team members Dennis Koester, Matthew Hesse, Shaima Qunies for co-hosting!

Pharmaceutical Business Updates from November 2024 | https://lnkd.in/gJBtNn2R GSK and Roche strengthened their pipelines, Pep2Tango Therapeutics introduced a novel obesity treatment approach, and Amgen faced scrutiny over emerging data on its obesity drug candidate MariTide. Learn more about these stories in this Business Updates Roundup! https://lnkd.in/gJBtNn2R

Key Clinical Compound Updates from November 2024 | https://lnkd.in/gKiaSfUa This summary of major clinical updates from November covers FDA approvals, the initiation of new clinical trials, notable trial outcomes for key drug candidates, and news on paused and discontinued trials and programs. The highlights feature exciting data on GLP-1-based therapeutics for weight loss and metabolic disorders, promising results for a potential first-in-class oral lipoprotein(a) inhibitor, and disappointing performance of a schizophrenia drug with a promising mechanism. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gKiaSfUa

Curious about the latest developments in macrocycle drug discovery and what the future holds?  We've got you covered.  Katerina Leftheris, Ph.D. recently presented a Flash Talk entitled "Advancing Macrocycles in Drug Discovery". In her presentation, Katerina explains the resurgence of interest in macrocycles across the industry driven by advancements in cutting-edge screening technologies, formulation advancements, and sophisticated computational modeling tools. These breakthroughs have propelled macrocycles back to the forefront of pharmaceutical research. The recording is now available on our YouTube Channel:  https://lnkd.in/dc5VwJyN For a closer look at her slide deck, check out this article on the Drug Hunter platform: https://lnkd.in/dUM8aaK7

An MKK4 Inhibitor that Leverages the Body’s Natural Liver Regeneration Ability for Chronic Liver Disease | https://lnkd.in/gtnBAHJh HRX-215 is an orally bioavailable MKK4 inhibitor for liver regeneration that was developed in the labs of Prof. Dr. Stefan Laufer at the University of Tübingen, Lars Zender at the University Hospital Tübingen, and the resultant spin-out company, HepaRegeniX GmbH. In just over a decade since they discovered the dual specific kinase MKK4 as a master regulator of hepatocyte regeneration, HRX-215 completed a FIH clinical trial. This article is a fascinating case study on harnessing the liver's natural regenerative capacity, identifying key regulators of liver regeneration, and leveraging a kinase inhibitor with reported off-target activity for MKK4 as a suitable starting point, among other insights. Full Article 🔗: https://lnkd.in/gtnBAHJh

2024 Molecule of the Year - Team Favorites | https://lnkd.in/giGfNg5T Fri, Dec 20, 2024 9 AM PST / 12 PM EST / 6 PM CET As 2024 comes to a close, join us for a Coffee Chat with our team—Dennis X. Hu, Lewis Pennington, Rory McAtee, Shaima Qunies, Matthew Hesse, Brett Bookser and Dennis Koester—as they reflect on some of the year's most remarkable drug discovery stories. In our final Coffee Chat of the year, we'll share our personal favorites - breakthrough molecules that stood out for their innovation and impact. Can you guess the targets of these molecules by deciphering the protein structures on the flyer? Attend the Coffee Chat to find out, as we unravel the science and stories that shaped drug discovery this year. This is your opportunity to connect with the Drug Hunter community and share your own thoughts. Which drug discovery stories did you find most fascinating in 2024? Submit your questions and suggestions for your favorite stories during the registration, and join us live to be part of the discussion with the entire Drug Hunter content team. Register here: https://lnkd.in/ggwfjCyE

Thank you Schrödinger drug hunters in Portland!! It's not often you get to hang out with drug discovery scientists here in Portland, so our Drug Hunter team really appreciated the chance to visit Schrödinger's beautiful R&D site downtown! Thank you Aleksey Gerasyuto and Brendan Parr for hosting us and Leah Frye and Andrew Placzek for helping take the group out to lunch - our local team members enjoyed learning about the history of Schrodinger's R&D efforts and the future for physics-based drug design! Looking forward to next time in New York and San Diego :)

Curious about how strategic structural modifications can shape ADME properties and inspire your next design iteration? The recording of Lewis Pennington's Flash Talk on the "Strategic Use of the Necessary Nitrogen Atom for Property-based Drug Design" is now live on our YouTube channel! In this Flash Talk, Lew explores the evolution of property-based drug design, highlighting foundational concepts in holistic drug design. He discusses selected case studies that showcase the profound impact of the "necessary nitrogen atom" on ADME properties—including solubility, permeability, chemical and metabolic stability, oral bioavailability, and even preclinical toxicity assessments. Watch his presentation and share it with your team here: https://lnkd.in/guZpHvYj

Are you curious about the role AI can play in the drug design process? This is your chance to gain insights and get your questions answered by experts! We are thrilled to have Rebecca Paul as a speaker, who will share more about how AI is used in drug design today and how it can potentially accelerate the discovery of new therapeutics. As a bonus, Rebecca will be joined her colleagues, Pascal Savy and Adrian Stecuła who will be actively engaging in the chat to answer your questions throughout the session. This is a unique opportunity to learn, ask questions, and explore how AI is shaping the future of drug design. Make sure to bring your curiosity and your questions. We look forward to seeing you there! Register here: https://lnkd.in/gBTA7yXC

Are you encountering issues with an amide or another functional group in your molecule and seeking a suitable bioisosteric replacements? We've got you covered. Nicholas A. Meanwell recently presented a Flash Talk entitled "The Chemist's Playbook: Impactful Bioisosteres for Modern Drug Design". In this engaging talk, Nicholas goes into the history of bioisosterism and presents a series of case studies showcasing both classic and emerging bioisosteres. He highlights their innovative applications in overcoming issues in drug discovery and provides a comprehensive perspective on their role in modern pharmaceutical development. The presentation features examples of isosteres for carboxylic acids, amides, phosphates, phenyl groups, and hydrogens. Through detailed molecule case studies, the talk examines compounds that have significantly influenced the contemporary pharmacopeia, offering valuable insights for seasoned and aspiring drug hunters. The recording is now available on our YouTube Channel. Check it out here:  https://lnkd.in/g9TtpHYz