News Release

GEN reports on advances in novel protein kinase inhibitor development

Reports and Proceedings

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

image: Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), which is published 21 times a year by Mary Ann Liebert Inc., is the most widely read biotechnology news magazine worldwide. It includes articles on drug discovery, bioprocessing, OMICS, biobusiness and translational medicine. view more 

Credit: © 2011, Mary Ann Liebert Inc., publishers

New Rochelle, NY, June 2, 2011—Biotech scientists are working on novel protein kinase inhibitors that are targeting a host of conditions ranging from atherosclerosis to neurodegenerative diseases, reports Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN). Recent developments in the protein kinase inhibitor field include innovative paradigms for drug development, improved inhibitor profiling and selectivity strategies, and the expansion of disease targets (e.g., Alzheimer disease and traumatic brain injury), according to the June 1 issue of GEN (http://www.genengnews.com/gen-articles/kinase-inhibitor-obstacles-falling/3674/).

"Protein kinases underlie important cellular activities such as proliferation, metabolism, apoptosis, and differentiation, among others," says John Sterling, Editor in Chief of GEN. "They provide an excellent opportunity for a number of promising new drug products."

Researchers at ArQule, for example, are focusing on the inactive state of kinases. They carried out structural and functional studies on inhibitors of the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase that is implicated in several cancers. The team subsequently co-crystallized their own small molecule inhibitor with inactive c-Met and reportedly discovered a conformation that is distinct from published kinase structures.

Scientists at Celgene are refining the company's in-house kinase selectivity strategy. They used Caliper Life Sciences' ProfilerPro kinase selectivity assay to find selectivity snapshots they were seeking.

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Also covered in the GEN article is protein kinase inhibitor research taking place at Genentech, Merck Sharpe & Dohme, and the Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center.

For a copy of the June 1 issue of GEN, please call (914) 740-2122, or email: ebicovny@liebertpub.com

Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN) has retained its position as the number one biotech publisher around the globe since its launch in 1981. GEN publishes a print edition 21 times a year and has additional exclusive editorial content online, such as news and analysis, podcasts, webinars, polls, videos, and application notes. GEN's unique news and technology focus includes the entire bioproduct life cycle from early-stage R&D, to applied research including omics, biomarkers, as well as diagnostics, to bioprocessing and commercialization.


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