Our goals are to synthesize new drugs and drug-delivery agents to aid in the treatment of human diseases. We are currently developing new therapies for cancer and infectious diseases.
New Drugs which target Polyamine metabolism to Fight Cancer
We are synthesizing novel polyamine transport inhibitors which block the uptake of native polyamines into cells treated with a FDA approved polyamine biosynthesis inhibitor (difluoromethylornithine, DFMO). The goal is to starve tumor cells of the polyamine growth factors needed for their proliferation. These polyamine-starved cancers shunt to apoptosis (programmed cell death) as they are unable to proceed forward in their growth cycle. This approach also stimulates the immune system to help clear the tumor.
New antiviral compounds
We are synthesizing new compounds which target the host metabolism processes that viruses like the SARS-CoV-2 virus depend on for survival. The idea is to block viral proliferation by removing the key metabolites the virus needs to grow.