Molecular Therapies and Drug Targets Overview
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In order to understand what ______ is and how it works, we need to consider or remember our basics in molecular biology.

siRNA

The diagram shows the process of ______, namely the encoding of mRNA from DNA, thereafter the generation of proteins using the mRNA code in a process called translation, and the further modification of proteins via post-translational modification events.

transcription

In a case where too much of a protein is generated or if a mutated protein function needs to be inhibited, we need a way to stop this over production or ______.

misfunction

______ technology is a powerful method to prevent protein production.

<p>siRNA</p> Signup and view all the answers

SiRNA molecules are small bits of RNA that target and assist in the ______ of mRNA, such that protein translation is limited or blocked.

<p>destruction</p> Signup and view all the answers

Imagine in Step 1 that a mammalian cell is infected by a ______.

<p>virus</p> Signup and view all the answers

This virus contains double-stranded RNA. Upon entry into the cell, in Step 2, an enzyme called ______ cuts the viral RNA into smaller parts generating fragments of RNA.

<p>DICER</p> Signup and view all the answers

In Step 3, these small pieces of RNA are recognised by the RISC ______.

<p>complex</p> Signup and view all the answers

The main benefit of ______ peptides is their rapid design.

<p>receptor blocking</p> Signup and view all the answers

Once trafficking proteins are identified, ______ sites between the receptor and the protein can be quickly determined.

<p>binding</p> Signup and view all the answers

The blocking peptide can be made to match a short ______ sequence.

<p>amino acid</p> Signup and view all the answers

At high concentrations, blocking peptides compete with the receptor for binding to the ______ protein.

<p>trafficking</p> Signup and view all the answers

One disadvantage of receptor blocking peptides is their poor ______.

<p>stability</p> Signup and view all the answers

Another challenge is the possibility of an ______ response.

<p>immune</p> Signup and view all the answers

Delivering these peptides to the correct location within the body is a ______.

<p>difficulty</p> Signup and view all the answers

The technology of receptor blocking peptides remains at the ______ stage.

<p>research</p> Signup and view all the answers

Surface expression is controlled by three events: ______, exocytosis, and localisation.

<p>endocytosis</p> Signup and view all the answers

Exocytosis is the ______ of receptors into the cell surface.

<p>insertion</p> Signup and view all the answers

Localisation refers to the ______ location of the receptor at the cell surface.

<p>exact</p> Signup and view all the answers

Protein interactions are important for ______ receptor surface expression.

<p>regulating</p> Signup and view all the answers

Scaffolding proteins are also known as proteins that ______ receptors at the membrane.

<p>stabilize</p> Signup and view all the answers

Trafficking and scaffold proteins often have ______ domains that allow them to bind receptors and other proteins.

<p>multiple</p> Signup and view all the answers

Trafficking and scaffold proteins can bind to and ______ receptor trafficking and placement.

<p>regulate</p> Signup and view all the answers

This slide shows more examples of receptor ______ and scaffolding proteins.

<p>trafficking</p> Signup and view all the answers

The major drug targets are considered to be receptors and ______.

<p>enzymes</p> Signup and view all the answers

Biologics include large peptides, recombinant proteins, and ______.

<p>antibodies</p> Signup and view all the answers

The first biologic drug was humanised ______, which became available in 1982.

<p>insulin</p> Signup and view all the answers

There has been a substantial increase in the commercialisation of cell therapy and medical ______.

<p>devices</p> Signup and view all the answers

In 2010, only six biologics were approved, while 15 biologics were approved in ______.

<p>2022</p> Signup and view all the answers

Small molecules such as drugs include receptor agonists, receptor antagonists, and enzyme ______.

<p>inhibitors</p> Signup and view all the answers

Biologic drugs are dominating the commercial ______ space.

<p>market</p> Signup and view all the answers

There has been a focus on small molecules being the major types of drugs on the ______.

<p>market</p> Signup and view all the answers

Aptamers are about a tenth of the size of ______.

<p>antibodies</p> Signup and view all the answers

Aptamers have low or no ______.

<p>immunogenicity</p> Signup and view all the answers

Aptamers can survive throughout various organs of the body, including the ______.

<p>stomach</p> Signup and view all the answers

One limitation of aptamers is that they are not as well-characterised or widely used as ______.

<p>antibodies</p> Signup and view all the answers

Aptamers can be used for target ______.

<p>discovery</p> Signup and view all the answers

Aptamers can be conjugated to a ______ for target delivery.

<p>drug</p> Signup and view all the answers

The hope in target discovery is to identify aptamers that bind ______ cells.

<p>diseased</p> Signup and view all the answers

Aptamers can also help create drug targets or ______ linked to diseased cells.

<p>biomarkers</p> Signup and view all the answers

In 2021, 12 of the top 20 drugs were __________.

<p>biologics</p> Signup and view all the answers

The vaccine developed by Pfizer is called __________.

<p>Comirnaty</p> Signup and view all the answers

AbbVie’s drug used for arthritis and Crohn's is known as __________.

<p>Humira</p> Signup and view all the answers

The drug known as __________ is a PD1 mAB used for treating cancers.

<p>Keytruda</p> Signup and view all the answers

The drug used as an anticoagulant for deep vein thrombosis is __________.

<p>Eliquis</p> Signup and view all the answers

Regeneron's COVID-19 treatment, known as __________, is a vaccine.

<p>REGEN-COV</p> Signup and view all the answers

Trulicity is an analogue of human __________ used to treat Type 2 diabetes.

<p>glucagon-like peptide-1</p> Signup and view all the answers

Th drug __________ is used in the treatment of multiple myeloma and is known as CD38 mAB.

<p>Darzalex</p> Signup and view all the answers

The vaccine Gardasil 9 targets __________ virus.

<p>human papilloma</p> Signup and view all the answers

The drug __________ is a CDK 4/6 inhibitor used for breast cancer.

<p>Ibrance</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Major Drug Targets

Receptors and enzymes primarily targeted by drugs for treatment.

Molecular Drug Targets

Drug targets including DNA, mRNA, and proteins, beyond traditional receptors and enzymes.

Types of Drugs

Includes receptor agonists, antagonists, and enzyme inhibitors, mainly small molecules.

Biologics

Drugs derived from biological sources, including antibodies, proteins, and nucleic acids.

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First Biologic Drug

Humanized insulin was the first biologic available, introduced in 1982.

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Biologics Approval Increase

Rapid rise in approved biologics from 6 in 2010 to 15 in 2022.

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Commercialization of Biologics

Biologics are dominating the market space due to increasing approvals and effectiveness.

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Therapeutic Sector Growth

Significant expansion in research and development of biologics and cell therapy.

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Aptamer size

Aptamers are about a tenth the size of antibodies.

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Blood Brain Barrier (BBB)

Aptamers may cross the BBB for drug delivery.

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Immunogenicity of Aptamers

Aptamers have low or no immunogenicity.

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Stability of Aptamers

Aptamers remain stable at varied heat and pH levels.

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Manufacturing of Aptamers

Aptamers are easy to manufacture with consistent quality.

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Limitations of Aptamers

Aptamers are less characterized and more expensive than antibodies.

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Target Discovery

Aptamers can distinguish between healthy and diseased cells.

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Target Delivery

Aptamers can direct drugs to specific targets in the body.

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Transcription

The process of synthesizing mRNA from DNA.

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Translation

The process of creating proteins using mRNA as a template.

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Post-translational modification

Changes made to proteins after their synthesis, affecting their function.

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siRNA

Small interfering RNA that targets and degrades mRNA to inhibit protein production.

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RISC complex

RNA-induced silencing complex that uses siRNA to reduce gene expression.

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DICER

An enzyme that processes viral double-stranded RNA into siRNA.

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Gene silencing

The process of stopping the expression of specific genes.

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Discovery of siRNA

The groundbreaking research by Fire and Mello in 1998 that advanced molecular biology.

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Antibodies

Proteins made by the immune system to neutralize pathogens like bacteria and viruses.

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Vaccine

A biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a specific infectious disease.

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COVID-19 Drugs

Medications specifically developed to treat or prevent COVID-19.

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Humira

An antibody drug used to treat autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and Crohn’s disease.

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Keytruda

An antibody that works as a checkpoint inhibitor for cancer treatment.

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mAb

Monoclonal antibodies that are laboratory-made antibodies.

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Anticoagulant

A substance that prevents blood clots, used in deep vein thrombosis treatment.

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Type 2 Diabetes Drug

Medications that help control blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes patients.

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Receptor Blocking Peptides

Peptides designed to competitively inhibit receptor binding by mimicking short amino acid sequences.

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Design Advantage

Quick design of blocking peptides without extensive screening studies.

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Binding Sites

The specific locations on proteins where peptides attach, usually short amino acid sequences (5-10).

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High Concentrations

Using high peptide concentrations to effectively compete with natural protein interactions.

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Disadvantages of Peptides

Challenges include poor stability, fast metabolism, and high immunogenicity.

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Immune Response

The body's defense mechanism reacting to peptides as foreign substances.

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Delivery Challenges

Difficulties in targeting and delivering peptides to specific locations in the body.

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Commercialization Status

Receptor blocking peptide technology remains in academic labs and is not yet marketed.

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Endocytosis

The process of removing receptors from the cell surface.

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Exocytosis

The insertion of receptors into the cell surface.

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Localisation

The specific positioning of receptors at the cell surface.

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Scaffolding Proteins

Proteins that stabilise receptors at the membrane.

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Receptor Trafficking

The process of moving receptors to and from the cell surface.

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Receptor Insertion

The action of adding receptors to the cell surface.

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Receptor Removal

The action of taking receptors away from the cell surface.

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Multip-domain Proteins

Proteins with various regions that bind receptors and other proteins.

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Study Notes

Molecular-Based Therapies and Technologies

  • This presentation reviews molecular-based therapies like siRNA, aptamers, and blocking peptides.
  • It explores their mechanisms of action and current market status.
  • Key drug targets include proteins and enzymes.
  • Biologics (antibodies, proteins, peptides) are increasingly prevalent in the commercial market, with > 12 of 20 top-selling drugs in 2021 being biologics.
  • Biologics have a history dating back to 1982 with humanized insulin as a first example. This field has seen substantial growth in recent years with numerous new developments including cell therapy and medical devices.

Overview of Drugs and Drug Targets

  • Major drug targets are proteins (receptors, enzymes), DNA and mRNA.
  • Small molecule drugs and biologic drugs are distinct types of drugs targeting these molecules.
  • The drug targets are areas on a protein/molecule to which a drug can attach. There are ways to manipulate the drug target/proteins to either activate, inhibit or modify it. Active, inactive and specific are terms associated with how the drug binds to the target.

A Brief History of Biologics

  • First biologic drug was humanized insulin, appearing in 1982.
  • Current biologics encompass a variety of molecules (large peptides, recombinant proteins, antibodies, DNA/RNA-based, synthetic vaccines).
  • The number of approved biologics has grown significantly since 2010.

Top 20 Drugs in 2021

  • 12 of the top 20 selling drugs in 2021 were biologics (antibodies, vaccines, or protein-based).
  • Pfizer's Comirnaty ($36.8 billion), for COVID-19, was notably top-selling.

Section 1: Small Interfering RNA (siRNA)

  • siRNA is a small interfering RNA molecule targeting mRNA for protein production elimination.
  • It operates using a process called RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC).
  • It involves a series of key steps of cutting mRNA (inducing gene silencing) to stop proteins from being made.

Our Antiviral Defense

  • Cells have antiviral defense mechanisms which involve cutting viral RNA into smaller pieces (siRNA).
  • These pieces are then recognised by a complex, RISC, and then bind to specific viral mRNA.
  • DICER-enzyme cuts viral RNA into small fragments (siRNA).
  • The siRNA complex binds viral mRNA, cutting it and preventing protein production.

How siRNA Works

  • siRNA sequences are designed to match mRNA targets.
  • Cells receive and incorporate artificial siRNA or viral-based mRNA.
  • RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) binds to a strand of siRNA.
  • The subsequent binding of RISC to compatible mRNA causes cuts to the mRNA, stopping related protein formation.

siRNA Market Story

  • siRNA technology has shown potential but hasn't yet reached full market success.
  • The target areas for siRNA include eyes, lungs, liver, skin, kidney, and tumours.
  • Companies using this technology have varied success rates.

Section 2: Aptamers

  • Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules selectively binding targets.
  • They form specific 3D structures to have a well fit for the proteins they target.
  • The process of finding an effective aptamer is called Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX).
  • Key steps include creating a wide library of molecules, identifying aptamers, amplifying the selected aptamers and choosing the one with highest affinity for the target protein.

Uses of Aptamers

  • Target Discovery: Identifying aptamers specific to diseased cells vs. healthy cells for drug development and biomarker identification.
  • Target Delivery: Attaching aptamers to drugs to target specific cells or tissues.
  • Toxin Removal: Removing toxins by targeting bound toxin to specific removal organs/ systems in the body).
  • Drug Labeling: Attaching fluorescent tags to aptamers for tracking drug distribution and metabolism.

Section 3: Blocking Peptides

  • Blocking peptides act as regulators of receptor function (activate or deactivate).
  • Specific peptides are tailored to interact with receptor-trafficking and scaffold proteins.
  • They prevent receptors from binding to trafficking proteins, thus controlling receptor placement and ultimately affecting receptor function.

Receptors as Drug Targets

  • Important methods used to regulate receptor function include agonists, partial agonists, antagonists and inverse agonists.
  • Methods and challenges related to receptor function regulation are discussed in detail.

Novel Methods to Alter Receptor Function

  • Regulation of receptor trafficking to cell surfaces and maintaining them inside the cell are areas of potential use to manipulate receptor function.
  • Targeting receptor placement affects the function of the receptor.

Multiple Domain Protein Scaffolds

  • Proteins have multiple domains allowing receptors to be grouped for appropriate function.
  • These proteins work together to regulate receptor trafficking and placement.

Receptor Trafficking and Anchoring Proteins

  • Specific proteins are involved in receptor trafficking and anchoring.
  • These proteins regulate where receptors are located within the cell.

Postsynaptic Density: Full of Proteins

  • Many proteins are present at the postsynaptic density, the central site of the neuron.
  • Proteins are involved in regulating trafficking to and from the membrane.

Creating Blocking Peptides to Inhibit Interactions

  • Steps for creating blocking peptides to regulate receptor function are described.
  • This process of using peptides involves identifying the right protein and binding sites.

Blocking Peptides as Receptor Activators

  • Methods using blocking peptides to promote receptor function are detailed.

Benefits and Challenges of Blocking Peptides

  • Benefits like quick design and high concentrations blocking interaction are described.
  • Challenges like instability, poor distribution, immune response when delivered to the target are described

Blocking Peptides Market Story

  • This technology has not yet seen broad market application.
  • It is currently being researched in academic labs.

Conclusion

  • siRNA, aptamers, and blocking peptides offer novel approaches to receptor pharmacology.
  • These techniques hold potential but further research and development are needed.
  • These technologies represent novel approaches to classic receptor pharmacology.

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Description

This quiz covers the essentials of molecular-based therapies including siRNA, aptamers, and biologics. It explores key drug targets such as proteins and their significance in the pharmaceutical market. Understand the relationship between drugs and their target molecules for a comprehensive insight into modern therapeutics.

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