Rescuing Abandoned Molecules as Nav1.7 and PCSK9 Inhibitors
Giuseppe Amico
Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, V.le A. Doria 6, I-95125 Catania, Italy
Livia Basile *
Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, V.le A. Doria 6, I-95125 Catania, Italy
Giuseppe Romeo
Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, V.le A. Doria 6, I-95125 Catania, Italy
Loredana Salerno
Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, V.le A. Doria 6, I-95125 Catania, Italy
Maria N. Modica
Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, V.le A. Doria 6, I-95125 Catania, Italy
Maria A. Siracusa
Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, V.le A. Doria 6, I-95125 Catania, Italy
Agostino Marrazzo
Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, V.le A. Doria 6, I-95125 Catania, Italy
Valeria Pittalà
Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, V.le A. Doria 6, I-95125 Catania, Italy
Salvatore Guccione
Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, V.le A. Doria 6, I-95125 Catania, Italy
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Academic institutions have plentiful of unexploited compounds. A cost-effective repositioning strategy from abandoned molecules coming from different research projects was applied. This strategy was based on the creation of a 2D-database then the biological assaying following adherence to the the Lilly OIDD (Open Innovation Drug Discovery) program by combining in silico methods and in vitro screening modules representing therapeutic areas of significant interest. The best results involve some molecules, that demonstrated to be active voltage-gated sodium ion channel Nav1.7 inhibitors. The inhibition of Nav1.7 is considered to be a potential mechanism for the treatment of chronic pain. Other findings refer to the inhibition of PCSK9 (Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin Kexin type 9) synthesis, a convertase that plays a regulatory role in the metabolism of cholesterol. This work demonstrates that successful strategies can be established by mutual Academic-Industrial collaborations that can lead to the discovery and development of new drugs by a cost-effective approach by accessing complementary crucial skills and cutting-edge technologies, without costly investments to generate the highest quality data as efficiently as possible with small amounts of compound.
Extracting latent value from abandoned molecules from various academic research projects, might be the starting point for innovative and cost-saving opportunities for both Academia and Industry to accelerate discovery of new drugs and disease treatments.
Keywords: Drug repositioning, database building, cheminformatics, in vitro screening, Nav1.7, PCSK9