Drug Discovery News and Research

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The drug discovery process begins with recognizing a disease or clinical condition in which there is a lack of adequate medical treatment. Once a potential drug has been identified, pre-clinical research can begin. This process includes several stages; the first of which involves identifying and validating the prospective drug’s target through assay development, high throughput screening, hit identification and finally, lead optimization. Once the pre-clinical process is complete, the newly synthesized drug candidate is selected for future clinical development.

Marburg virus enters human cells far more efficiently than Ebola

In a new study published in Nature, University of Minnesota researchers found that the Marburg virus, one of the world's deadliest pathogens with an average 73% fatality rate, is unusually efficient at getting inside human cells.

11 Mar 2026

Viagra ingredient improves symptoms in patients with Leigh syndrome

Sildenafil – an active ingredient also marketed under the name of Viagra – improves symptoms in patients with Leigh syndrome.

11 Mar 2026

Machine learning model predicts chemical reactions to accelerate drug discovery

Drug discovery is like molecular Tetris. Chemists snap atoms together, adjusting the pieces until everything fits and suddenly, a molecule makes a promising new medicine.

9 Mar 2026

Understanding PIEZO2 mutations and sensory disorders

Every time we feel a gentle tap on the skin, specialized nerve cells convert that physical force into an electrical signal that the brain can interpret as touch. While scientists have long known that a protein called PIEZO2 acts as a key sensor for touch, it remained unclear why PIEZO2 is specialized for the localized mechanical forces experienced by sensory neurons, whereas its close relative PIEZO1 responds to broader mechanical stresses such as those generated when cells stretch, as occurs in blood vessels.

9 Mar 2026

Researchers develop non-hormonal contraceptives to reduce side effects for couples

In the 1970s, the contraceptive pill was the most frequently used method of contraception in Western countries; in Germany, for example, one in three women used "the pill."

6 Mar 2026

Innovative peptide stapling system targets hard-to-treat cancers

Researchers at the University of Bath have developed a new technology that uses bacteria to build, chemically stabilize, and test millions of potential drug molecules inside living cells, making it much quicker and easier to discover new treatments for difficult-to-treat cancers.

3 Mar 2026

Promega unveils cellular target engagement technology aimed at expanding the druggable proteome at SLAS 2026

Promega Corporation is launching a new live-cell target engagement platform that could close a long-standing gap between biochemical and cellular assays for understudied or difficult-to-interrogate proteins.

From Promega Corporation 27 Feb 2026

Scientists uncover key protein essential for malaria parasite survival

An international team of scientists has shed light on the development of the malaria parasite and have identified a unique protein essential for its survival and transmission, which offers a promising new target for antimalaria drugs.

26 Feb 2026

Study reveals hidden internal structure within biomolecular condensates

Cells rely on biomolecular condensates to coordinate essential biological processes without surrounding membranes.

25 Feb 2026

Phase 2 clinical trial tests LMP744 for the treatment of first-time recurrent glioblastoma

Gibson Oncology, a clinical-stage private pharmaceutical company headquartered in Miami, announced it has entered Phase 2 clinical trials with LMP744 for the treatment of first-time recurrent glioblastoma patients.

25 Feb 2026

Automated platform finds unexpected enhancers for mRNA therapeutics

Integrating AI with advanced robotics to create self-driving labs (SDL) is a promising approach to tackling molecular discovery.

24 Feb 2026

Bruker advances Functional Proteomics 2.0 with timsOmni™ mass spectrometry proteoform analysis for deeper insights into disease biology

Bruker Corporation today announced new advancements to enable Functional Proteomics 2.0 workflows on the timsOmni™ mass spectrometer to enable disease researchers to move beyond canonical protein lists toward biologically or pathologically functional proteoforms and PTM-resolved peptide variants.

From Bruker Daltonics 24 Feb 2026

Genetic mismatch identified as major risk factor in cord blood transplantation

A Japanese study of more than 7,400 patients has identified a genetic mismatch that sharply increases the risk of severe acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) following umbilical cord blood transplantation.

20 Feb 2026

Syzygium jambolanum extract shows promise for diabetes management

The search for effective and accessible therapies for diabetes continues to draw attention to medicinal plants with a long history of traditional use.

19 Feb 2026

Single blood test predicts onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms years ahead

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a method to predict when someone is likely to develop symptoms of Alzheimer's disease using a single blood test.

19 Feb 2026

New technology maps protein production across individual brain cells

The brain's ability to carry out everything from forming memories to coordinating movement depends on its cells producing the right proteins at the right time.

18 Feb 2026

Axol Bioscience acquires ophthalmology business from Newcells Biotech

Axol Bioscience Ltd. (Axol), a leading provider of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technologies for drug discovery and research, today announced that it has acquired the ophthalmology business of Newcells Biotech (Newcells), a leading drug discovery partner specializing in the development of in vitro models and bespoke assay services.

18 Feb 2026

JAX-NYSCF collaborates with GSK to advance human cellular models of neurodegenerative disease

The Jackson Laboratory–New York Stem Cell Foundation Collaborative (JAX-NYSCF) today announced a five-year strategic research collaboration with GSK focused on advancing human cellular models of neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer's disease.

17 Feb 2026

Insilico Medicine and MSK collaborate to discover new drug targets for gastroesophageal malignancies

Insilico Medicine ("Insilico", 3696.HK), a clinical-stage generative artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery company, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) have entered into a collaborative research agreement aimed at discovering new therapeutic targets for gastroesophageal malignancies.

17 Feb 2026

Calibr-Skaggs and Kainomyx join forces to accelerate development of antimalarial drugs

The Calibr-Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines at Scripps Research and Kainomyx, Inc., today announced a new research collaboration to accelerate the discovery and development of next-generation antimalarial drugs.

17 Feb 2026