ChemDiv, Inc. And Yale University Receive Phase II NIH STTR Grant
SAN DIEGO and NEW HAVEN, Conn., Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- ChemDiv, Inc. and Yale University have announced that they have been awarded a joint Phase II NIH grant to further develop small molecule inhibitors of the G-protein coupled receptor, melanocortin-2 receptor (MC2R). ChemDiv will be responsible for medicinal chemistry optimization of the lead molecules using a panel of in vitro biochemical and cell-based assays, while the Yale scientists will perform the in depth follow-up studies on the mode of action of the discovered hits, with the ultimate goal being the development of effective drugs to treat congenital virilizing adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and Cushing's diseases in children.
"The production of adrenal gland hormones, including cortisol and androgens, is regulated by pituitary adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH), which acts via the MC2R to stimulate steroid production. Serious adrenal gland disorders include CAH and Cushing's disease," said Scott Rivkees, M.D., director of Yale Child Health Research Center. "There are currently no ACTH antagonists that affect the MC2R, and we hope that the discovery of such small molecules in this research program will ultimately facilitate the care of these and other conditions affecting the adrenal gland," continued Dr. Rivkees.
"I am very excited that our approach to small molecule ligand design led us in THIS Phase I to the discovery of effective inhibitors of the receptor, MC2R, which until now had no known small molecule ligands," said Ilya Okun, Ph.D., Vice President of Biology and CTO at ChemDiv, Inc. "Phase II will enable us to optimize the discovered inhibitors by high throughput synthesis of SAR libraries and characterizing them in in vitro and in vivo pharmacology assays," continued Dr. Okun.
About ChemDiv, Inc.
ChemDiv is a global chemistry-driven contract research organization focused on the delivery of scientific innovation, products and services that meet the drug discovery needs of its partners. ChemDiv provides partners with access to Discovery outsource(TM), a full service drug discovery capability encompassing: medicinal chemistry, pre-clinical development, synthetic chemistry, diverse and focused screening libraries, and logistics services. For more information, please visit us at http://www.chemdiv.com
About Yale Child Health Research Center
The Yale Child Health Research Center (YCHRC) is one of America's premier pediatric research centers. The missions of the YCHRC are to find causes and cures for illness affecting children and adolescents and develop leaders in pediatric research. The research performed in the YCHRC is supported by different funding agencies including the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The YCHRC is home to one of twenty NIH sponsored Children's Hospital Research Centers, and the Yale CHRC is the longest continuously funded CHRC in the nation. See http://www.settingsundesign.com/yale/about.htm
ChemDiv, Inc.; Yale UniversityCONTACT: Ilya Okun, Ph.D. of ChemDiv, Inc., +1-858-794-4860,io@chemdiv.com; or Scott A. Rivkees, Ph.D., MD of Yale Child HealthResearch Center, +1-203-737-5975, Scott.Rivkees@Yale.edu