NDDC’s Role in Tackling Hard-to-Treat Cancers
The National Drug Discovery Centre (NDDC) has played a pivotal role in advancing cancer research by identifying potential treatments for difficult-to-treat cancers.
Researchers from the Queensland Emory Drug Discovery Initiative (QEDDI) and the University of Queensland collaborated with NDDC to develop drugs targeting an overactive enzyme found in advanced-stage cancers. This breakthrough has led to the discovery of lead compounds with exceptional potency, marking the foundation for a first-in-class drug to treat: Metastatic prostate cancer, Breast cancer, Ovarian cancer, Colon cancer
Accelerating Therapies with High-Throughput Screening
This initiative demonstrates how NDDC’s high-throughput screening technology can accelerate the development of novel cancer therapies, providing new hope for patients with aggressive forms of the disease.
Pioneering Protein Degrader Therapies
– Next-Generation Cancer Medicines
A WEHI spinout company, Ternarx, is using NDDC’s screening technology to develop targeted protein degrader drugs, a cutting-edge approach in cancer treatment.
Traditional drugs often fail to target certain disease-causing proteins, but Ternarx’s protein degrader technology enables the selective destruction of these harmful proteins. This research focuses on:
- Neuroblastoma – the leading cause of cancer deaths in children under five.
- Prostate cancer – the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Australian men.
Funded by a $15 million grant from the MRFF Frontier Health and Medical Research Initiative, Ternarx is collaborating with WEHI, the Children’s Cancer Institute, and Monash University to pioneer next-generation cancer therapies.
A Vision for Future Cancer Innovation
Through cutting-edge screening technologies and collaborative research efforts, NDDC is playing a transformative role in accelerating cancer drug discovery. From identifying new treatment candidates for advanced-stage cancers to pioneering targeted protein degrader therapies, the center’s work is helping to fast-track the development of next-generation cancer treatments.
With continued funding and scientific innovation, NDDC is poised to make significant contributions to oncology, ultimately improving outcomes for cancer patients worldwide.
Reference : https://www.wehi.edu.au/news/how-advanced-drug-discovery-tech-is-fast-tracking-new-treatments/