New drugs to treat infectious diseases
New inhibitors of MurA, a target enzyme for the development of new antibiotics
Duration: 2008-2011 | Grants awarded: € 260,000, of which Endotherm Life Science Molecules received: € 134,692
The incidence of infectious diseases has increased dramatically in recent years due to antibiotic resistance, global warming, and intensive worldwide travel. At the University of Heidelberg, Prof. Dr. Ch. Klein with his working group conducted a project on this topic. The aim was to develop inhibitors of the enzyme MurA, which is essential for the construction of the bacterial cell wall. Endotherm Life Science Molecules produced promising screening compounds that were tested in an assay developed in Heidelberg.
Inhibitors of Dengue NS3 protease
Duration: 2008-2008
Dengue virus infects approximately 5 million (WHO, 2019) to 50 million (NIH) people annually. Approximately 40% of the global population, mainly in tropical and subtropical countries, is at risk of DEN infection. A research project conducted at Heidelberg University sought to identify small molecule inhibitors of NS3 protease, a vital DEN enzyme. Endotherm Life Science Molecules provided approximately 500 screening compounds for testing in an in vitro assay developed by Prof. Dr. Ch. Klein and his team. The project identified a new small molecule which, in terms of affinity, molecular weight, and synthetic accessibility, meets all the important requirements for further development as a drug.
Hepatitis C inhibitors
Duration: 2007-2007
Chronic Hepatitis C infection affects approximately 58 million people (WHO, 2022) and leads to life-threatening diseases such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. Despite some new but very expensive drugs, there is little chance of cure, especially for affected people in developing countries. In cooperation with the Pharmaceutical Institute of Saarland University, new active compounds have been developed to prevent a disease-causing interaction of involved proteins and are suitable for the development of new drugs.