About our group
The main mission of the Drug Discovery group is the design and synthesis of biologically active compounds. We collaborate with the Drug Discovery Group at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) in Baltimore, USA, on several projects combining our experience in chemistry with JHU expertise in biology and medicine. Together, we are developing prodrugs of glutamine antimetabolite 6-Diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON), inhibitors of Glutamate Carboxy Peptidase II (GCPII), Decitabine and Mebendazole. The prodrugs target cancer cells and selectively deliver the active drugs, thus lowering their toxicity. These compounds may find use as novel therapeutics in cancer as well as neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases. They have been patented, and some of them are currently undergoing preclinical testing.
