Calibr-Skaggs and Kainomyx Launch Gates Foundation-Backed Collaboration to Develop Novel Antimalarial Drugs Targeting Parasite Cytoskeleton
核心洞察
The Calibr-Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines (搜索) at Scripps Research (搜索) and Kainomyx (搜索) have announced a Gates Foundation (搜索)-supported collaboration to accelerate discovery of next-generation antimalarial drugs targeting cytoskeletal proteins (搜索) in Plasmodium (搜索) parasites.
The partnership addresses the urgent need for new malaria (搜索) treatments as drug-resistant P. falciparum (搜索) strains threaten current therapies, with malaria causing over 280 million cases and 600,000 deaths annually.
Kainomyx (搜索) will provide expertise in cytoskeletal protein targets and structural studies, while Calibr-Skaggs will lead medicinal chemistry and high-throughput screening efforts.
The Calibr-Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines (搜索) at Scripps Research (搜索) and Kainomyx (搜索), Inc., have announced a new research collaboration to accelerate the discovery and development of next-generation antimalarial drugs. This partnership, supported by the Gates Foundation (搜索), brings together Calibr-Skaggs' world-class drug discovery platform and Kainomyx's innovative focus on cytoskeletal targets in the Plasmodium (搜索) species of the parasite that are responsible for the deadliest form of malaria (搜索).
Addressing Critical Unmet Medical Need
Malaria (搜索) remains one of the world's most devastating infectious diseases, with over 280 million cases and more than 600,000 deaths annually, disproportionately affecting children and vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries. The emergence of drug-resistant strains of P. falciparum (搜索) threatens to undermine current therapies, highlighting the urgent need for new medicines with novel mechanisms of action.
"The fight against malaria (搜索) is at a critical juncture," said Case McNamara, senior director of infectious disease at Calibr-Skaggs. "We need to stay ahead of resistance by identifying and advancing compounds with entirely new mechanisms. Our collaboration with Kainomyx (搜索) is designed to do just that: by targeting the parasite's cytoskeleton, we open up a new front in the battle against this disease."
Proven Track Record in Drug Discovery
Calibr-Skaggs has a proven track record in translational drug discovery. The institute's unique nonprofit model and integrated approach have enabled the advancement of over a dozen drug candidates into the clinic, including promising antimalarial agents.
"Our mission is to translate scientific breakthroughs into real-world solutions for those most in need," said Anil Gupta, director of medicinal chemistry at Calibr-Skaggs. "Collaborations like this are essential to succeed in the global effort to eradicate malaria (搜索)."
Novel Cytoskeletal Targeting Approach
Kainomyx (搜索), a pioneering biotechnology company, brings deep expertise in the identification, expression, purification and structural analysis of cytoskeletal proteins (搜索) in various parasites. By leveraging advanced biochemical and biophysical techniques, Kainomyx has developed a robust platform for discovering small molecules that disrupt the parasite's cytoskeleton—a strategy with the potential to yield first-in-class antimalarial drugs.
"At Kainomyx (搜索), we are passionate about translating fundamental insights in cytoskeletal biology into transformative therapies," said James Spudich, co-founder of Kainomyx. Spudich was also a co-founder of Cytokinetics (搜索) and MyoKardia (搜索) (now BMS), two innovative companies with FDA-approved drugs targeting cytoskeletal proteins (搜索) for the treatment of muscle diseases.
"Partnering with Calibr-Skaggs allows us to combine our strengths in target biology, biochemical and cellular assay development, and structural analysis with their world-leading medicinal chemistry and screening capabilities. Together, we are poised to make a real impact on global health," said Darshan Trivedi, co-founder and president of Kainomyx (搜索).
Collaborative Framework and Division of Responsibilities
Under the terms of the agreement, Kainomyx (搜索) will provide expertise and materials related to cytoskeletal protein targets, as well as high-resolution structural studies and parasite-specific biochemical, cellular and selectivity assays. Calibr-Skaggs will lead medicinal chemistry efforts, synthesis and high-throughput screening of compound libraries. Both organizations will jointly advance promising hits through the drug discovery pipeline, with a shared commitment to open publication and global access.
"Our mission at Kainomyx (搜索) is to harness the power of cytoskeletal science to address urgent global health challenges. Working with Calibr-Skaggs and with support from the Gates Foundation (搜索), we have an unprecedented opportunity to bring new hope to millions at risk of malaria (搜索)," said Spudich.
"By combining Calibr-Skaggs' translational drug discovery engine with Kainomyx (搜索)'s innovative cytoskeletal biology, we are uniquely positioned to deliver new solutions for malaria (搜索). This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to partnerships that drive impact for patients worldwide," said Arnab Chatterjee, vice president of medicinal chemistry, Calibr-Skaggs.