A new research, at the University of Valencia (East of Spain), has discovered eight new molecules, which fight Alzheimer.
Researchers, at the University of Valencia (UV), have discovered eight new active molecules against Alzheimer, delaying some of the determining processes, in the development of the disease and follow a novel mechanism of action, different from those of drugs currently in use.
The research results, published in the open access journal “Plos One”, reveal that the molecules have been designed following a mechanism involving inhibition of the deposit of the beta-amyloid protein, which is responsible for the appearance of the disease.
The Beta-amyloid protein
The mechanism also inhibits the formation of small protein fragments, called oligomers, which arise in the early stages of the disease and seem to play a determining role in the development process, says the UV in a note.
The Director of the team Team of the Unit Drugs Design and Molecular Topology of the UV, Professor of Physical Chemistry, Jorge Gálvez, specifies that the molecules have been designed "by following a methodology called molecular topology, in which the group works since early the 80" and which allows describing and predicting the molecular structure of some chemicals.
The laboratory tests, that have confirmed the activity of the new molecules, have been conducted in the School of Medicine “Mount Sinai” of New York. In them, the molecules have been shown to be active both in vitro --in neuronal cell culture-- like in vivo, --in transgenic mice--.
The professor of Neurology and Director of the Center of Excellence for complementary treatment of Alzheimer of the “Mount Sinai”, Giulio M. Pasinetti, has directed the trials, in which have also participated Japanese and American researchers.
The group of Drugs Design and Molecular Topology of the UV has worked in the design of many other types of drugs, including anticancer, analgesics, antihistamines, new food additives or pesticides, under the direction of Gálvez and García-Domenech teachers.
In this sense, they have been authors of over one hundred scientific publications on the subject in international journals, as well as several national and international patents.
According to Jorge Gálvez said: "This shows once again that the molecular topology is a powerful tool for the design of new drugs and in general of new active molecules, in various applications, including agriculture, food, etc..".
The Alzheimer, in Spain, affects to 600,000 people, according to the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN), it is present in one of ten households, and there will be more, because it is expected that the incidence will double, in the coming years by the progressive aging population. However, approximately 30 to 40% of cases may be undiagnosed, especially in the early stages of the disease, when it is milder. There are only five percent of cases diagnosed, according to SEN.
Well, I think this discovery is a great step of hope for such million patients and their telatives.
Till next time, kind regards,
Luis.
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