ABSTRACT
Title
Metal NONOates as new drugs for cardiovascular diseases: the Noxamet Srl experience
Authors
M. Monti1,3, M. Ziche1, E. Monzani2,3, L. Casella2,3, L. Morbidelli1,3
1Dept. of Biotechnology , Section of Pharmacology, Univ. of Siena; 2Dept. General Chemistry, Univ. of Pavia; 3Noxamet Srl, Milano
1Dept. of Biotechnology , Section of Pharmacology, Univ. of Siena; 2Dept. General Chemistry, Univ. of Pavia; 3Noxamet Srl, Milano
Abstract
Drugs based on nitric oxide (NO) have been used in clinical practice for decades in different pathologies, with particular regard to cardiovascular diseases. Over the last years, only a few number of new NO-donors have been introduced into therapy, and, at the same time, the older drugs present important limiting side effects.
In the last decade, our group has contributed to the development of new metal-NONOates with peculiar kinetics of NO release (Ziche et al., 2008). These compounds are more effective as NO donors since release NO slower than SNP and are active in the nM concentration range. Other positive features of these compounds are the ease preparation, low production costs and the possibility of compound functionalization. To further optimize the molecules and to define properly the characteristics of efficacy and safety, a new company, Noxamet Srl, has been created as an academic spin-off of Siena and Pavia Universities.
Noxamet Srl will develop at least three new products with potential therapeutic activity in cardiovascular diseases, as in arterial hypertension. The company's core business is to conduct preclinical studies for optimization of the compounds previously developed and patented by the members of the society, to allow the commercialization. The studies include the continued collaboration between the chemical and the pharmacological groups, who will evaluate the characteristics of the new molecules on various models starting from the cell cultures, then ex vivo studies, and finally animal models of hypertensive disease. The information on the efficacy will be further supported by toxicology studies on the compound safety.
The company also will provide its pharmacological expertise and services to participate in national and European projects in which SME are involved, and synthesize chemicals (small molecules and peptides) to potential academic and private clients.
Ziche et al. (2008). ChemMedChem. 3:1039-47.
In the last decade, our group has contributed to the development of new metal-NONOates with peculiar kinetics of NO release (Ziche et al., 2008). These compounds are more effective as NO donors since release NO slower than SNP and are active in the nM concentration range. Other positive features of these compounds are the ease preparation, low production costs and the possibility of compound functionalization. To further optimize the molecules and to define properly the characteristics of efficacy and safety, a new company, Noxamet Srl, has been created as an academic spin-off of Siena and Pavia Universities.
Noxamet Srl will develop at least three new products with potential therapeutic activity in cardiovascular diseases, as in arterial hypertension. The company's core business is to conduct preclinical studies for optimization of the compounds previously developed and patented by the members of the society, to allow the commercialization. The studies include the continued collaboration between the chemical and the pharmacological groups, who will evaluate the characteristics of the new molecules on various models starting from the cell cultures, then ex vivo studies, and finally animal models of hypertensive disease. The information on the efficacy will be further supported by toxicology studies on the compound safety.
The company also will provide its pharmacological expertise and services to participate in national and European projects in which SME are involved, and synthesize chemicals (small molecules and peptides) to potential academic and private clients.
Ziche et al. (2008). ChemMedChem. 3:1039-47.