Virtual Medical Centre

Drug may slow down Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases

15 November 2009
Working like an architect, Prof. Hagit Eldar-Finkelman of Tel Aviv University's Sackler School of Medicine is "building" a new drug, L803-MTS, to treat a number of central nervous system (CNS) diseases like Alzheimer's. In pre-clinical studies, it also shows promise against Parkinson's, Huntington's and diabetes.

L803-MTS is based on the physical structure of the GSK3 protein, which plays a causative role in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Working with chemists, biotechnologists and 3-D modelists, Prof. Eldar-Finkelman and her colleagues built – like engineers constructing a building – a drug that locks onto the GSK3 protein, rendering it harmless and unable to wreak havoc inside the body.

Recent research findings on the L803-MTS drug have been published in the Journal of Molecular Biology (2008) and Current Pharmaceutical Design (2009, currently in press).

An innovative approach

Since Prof. Eldar-Finkelman linked GSK3 to insulin resistance in diabetes more than ten years ago, a race has been on among drug manufacturers to find a drug that can potentially turn off the harmful effects of GSK3. But rather than build on existing drugs, Prof. Eldar-Finkelman and her colleagues worked from the ground up. "I decided to take a completely different approach from all the big drug companies rushing to find the ultimate drug," says Prof. Eldar-Finkelman. "I designed my own."

Pre-clinical results have been positive, and the new drug does not exhibit dangerous toxic side effects, a problem with existing formulations. While L803-MTS cannot reverse the onset of a CNS disease once it has started, Prof. Eldar-Finkelman believes it can slow down the devastating effects of CNS diseases, like impaired memory and depression, or insulin-resistance.