Speaker: Dr. Philip S. Low
Dr. Low's lab targets drugs specifically directed to pathologic cells to improve the potency of the drug, and to prevent the collateral toxicity that would normally occur if the drug were allowed to enter healthy cells. His program will describe how this is done and how it has dramatically improved the effectiveness of cancer, autoimmune and other diseases.
Dr. Philip S. Low is the Presidential Scholar for Drug Discovery and the Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Purdue University. Dr. Low has spent over 45 years designing targeted imaging and therapeutic agents for the diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. He has published >500 scientific articles that have earned an H-index of >125 and has >760 US patents/patents pending. Five drugs stemming from his research are currently undergoing human clinical trials (including a malaria therapy in phase 3), and three of his previous drugs have received FDA approval in the last three years. Low has also founded seven companies (Endocyte Inc., OnTarget Laboratories Inc., Umoja Biopharma, Morphimmune Inc., Novosteo Inc., Eradivir Inc. and ErythroCure Inc.) to commercialize his discoveries.
Sponsored by Judy Weitzman
Program: New Targeted Therapies for Cancers, Autoimmune, Fibrotic, and Infectious Diseases
Speaker: Philip S. Low, PhD, R. C. Corley Dist. Prof. of Chemistry, Purdue and much, much more
Introduced By: Judy Weitzman
Attendance: NESC: 92, Zoom: 35
Guest(s): Ben Blakley, Frank Crossland, Sandy and Bud France, Donna Holl, Jonathan Lee, Doug Wrankle
Scribe: Terry Ihnat
Editor: Carl Warner
Talk’s Zoom recording found at: https://www.scientechclubvideos.org/zoom/01122026.mp4
Drug Targeting Approach: idea is to develop drugs that target diseased cells and minimize harm to healthy cells by using targeting ligands to link drug payloads to smart molecules that target specific diseased cells to prevent damage to normal cells.
Practical applications:
1. Attach a fluorescent dye to a molecule that targets a specific cancer, e.g. ovarian or lung, which when exposed to black light it fluoresces, allowing the surgeon to visualize malignancy not otherwise visible and allow a more effective resection to increase survival.
2. Radiotherapy: e.g. Pluvicto, a radiotherapeutic agent attached to a molecule that specifically targets prostate cancer, primary or metastatic.
3. Pluvicto could also be used for other solid tumors and bone metastases.
4. Innovative drugs: e.g. for influenza and Covid which would hone in on the virus faster, 100 times more effective in reducing morbidity. Cost of Covid thus far is in the trillions and flu in the billions.
5. Malaria: 600,000 deaths annually. Attach a drug to a molecule that attaches to RBC and prevents release of replicating Plasmodium. There is a lot of mortality in countries where it is endemic. With adults being a reservoir for the parasite, children when they then get bit have a significant morbidity and mortality.
6. Fracture healing: osteoporosis drug delivered to the hydroxyapatite exposed by the fracture and enhances healing.
7. Macular degeneration: allows delivery of drug to inhibit the pathologic vascularization by subcutaneous injection as opposed to intraocular.
8. Autoimmune diseases: multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis. Deliver drug to suppress the immune cells that are targeting healthy tissue.
9. Fibrotic diseases: pulmonary fibrosis, scleroderma. Drugs to target the overactive cells causing the fibrosis.
AI is essential in reducing development time. Targeted therapies show promise in maximizing drug efficiency and minimizing side effects.
