| Bob Vince can't be sure where his becoming a scientist began, but where it led, changed the world. As the discoverer of carbovirs, the precursor to the AIDS drug Ziagen, Vince's contribution to humanity can't be underestimated. Though its history is one fraught with lessons and lawsuits, the drug's legacy, in the end, is and will be one of human health and some mercy for millions afflicted with HIV/AIDS.
Revenues from Ziagen has so far brought the U about $500 million, providing positions for faculty and fellowships for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and for the ongoing work of the center and its scientists, current and becoming, who will, like Vince, make discoveries that will continue to improve the world, through the lens of science, for years to come.
The full article by Adam Overland can be found here. Punch for a Poison: A New Way to Treat and Prevent Cyanide Poisoning Cyanide is one of the deadliest poisons around. Your body can handle a little of it, but for larger exposures an antidote is necessary. Current antidotes can work, but they're slow. That could change, however, now that three researchers at the University of Minnesota's Center for Drug Design (Profs Steve Patterson, Robert Vince and Herbert Nagasawa) have synthesized Sulfanegen, a faster-acting antidote, and California-based startup Vytacera Pharma will develop and market it. The researchers synthesized and tested several compounds and named the one that worked best Sulfanegen. Its job is to help out an enzyme that's key to the body's own cyanide-defense system. "It provides the enzyme with a compound it needs to detoxify cyanide," Patterson says. The full article can be found here. CDD Invention, Sulfanegen, to be Developed by Vytacera Pharma, Inc., for Anti-Cyanide Therapy Cyanide poisoning is often fatal and typically affects victims of industrial accidents, terrorist attacks, or structural fires. Based on research conducted at the Center for Drug Design at the University of Minnesota, startup Vytacera Pharma Inc. will develop and market Sulfanegen, a treatment for cyanide poisoning. Sulfanegen could be administered by first responders in the case of a mass casualty emergency, or to victims of smoke inhalation from a house fire. Sulfanegen was invented by Drs. Steve Patterson; Robert Vince, director of the Center for Drug Design; and Herbert Nagasawa, adjunct at the Center for Drug Design. The research was funded by the Center for Drug Design and the National Institutes of Health CounterACT (Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats) program, an effort involving a number of NIH institutes that enhances the nation’s diagnostic and treatment response capabilities during a chemical emergency. The technology was licensed exclusively to Vytacera by the university’s Office for Technology Commercialization. The full press release can be found here. Dr. Vince Inducted into Minnesota Science & Technology Hall of Fame Dr. Robert Vince, Professor and Director of the Center for Drug Design, was inducted to the Minnesota Science and Technology Hall of Fame. Dr. Vince is one of eight inductees who was honored at the Annual Tekne Awards celebration on November 3, 2011. The Minnesota Science and Technology (MST) Hall of Fame was created by the Minnesota High Tech Associate and Science Museum of Minnesota to honor individuals whose achievements in science and technology have made lasting contributions to Minnesota and the world. The hall is a permanent exhibit at the Science Museum of Minnesota and can be found online at http://www.mhta.org. Confocal Microscopy Image made the Cover of BioTechnique Journal Dr. Marna Ericson's image of the deer tick hypostome shows the barb bristles on its underside used for anchoring to its human host. Dr. Vince's Carbovir is Highlighted in the American Pharmacy Educator Week Dr. Robert Vince's landmark discovery of the Carbovir compound which went on to become the basis for the first drug ever designed specifically to target HIV/AIDS, is highlighted by the Amercican Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) during the American Pharmacy Educator Week (Oct 24-30). Researchers from the Center for Drug Design Identify Two FDA Approved Drugs That May Fight HIV CDD faculty member, Dr. Steven Patterson, Ph.D. in collaboration with CDD external member, Dr. Louis Mansky, Ph.D., and Dr. Christine Clouser, Ph.D., of the Institute for Molecular Virology and School of Dentistry, have identified two drugs that, when combined, may serve as an effective treatment for HIV. The two drugs, decitabine and gemcitabine – both FDA approved and currently used in pre-cancer and cancer therapy – were found to eliminate HIV infection in a human cell culture model by causing the virus to mutate itself to death – a process called "lethal mutagenesis". The findings were recently published online in the Journal of Virology. Dr. Vince Receives the 2010 Imbach Townsend Award Dr. Vince Receives Honorary Doctorate of Science Degree from SUNY Buffalo Dr. Robert Vince, Professor and Director of the Center for Drug Design, will be awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science degree from SUNY Buffalo, May 9, 2010, as a pioneering leader in the areas of medicinal chemistry and drug discovery. He has been honored for his work by a career development award from NIH (1972-1976), was the 1979 University of Minnesota Scholar of the year, and received a Certificate of Commendation by the Minnesota Governor (1989). In recognition of achievements as an inventor, was honored for outstanding contributions to research and development by the Minnesota Medical Alley, and Award of the New York Cayuga Community College (2002). He was recognized on “Scholars Walk and Wall of Discovery” at the University of Minnesota in 2006; received the Medicinal Chemistry Hall of Fame Award, American Chemical Society (2007); and inducted into the “Academy for Excellence in Health Research”, Academic Health Center, University of Minnesota (2009). Dr. Vince Elected to the AHC Academy of Excellence in Health Research Dr. Robert Vince, Director of Center for Drug Design and Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, has been elected to the Academic Health Center’s Academy of Excellence in Health Research. Inaugurated in 2003, the AHC Academy for Excellence in Health Research serves as the highest recognition of excellence in AHC faculty research. Honorees are chosen for their "many contributions to the quality of the University of Minnesota through sustained nationally and internationally recognized health-related research in his/her field”. Dr. Vince’s scientific contributions and eclectic approach to solving problems have focused on unique methods in the development of novel chemotherapeutic agents. His most notable achievement is the design of carbocyclic nucleosides agents, termed "carbovirs", that were later developed into the anti-HIV drug, ZiagenTM. It is marketed worldwide by GlaxoSmithKline for the treatment of AIDS in adults and children. Among Dr. Vince's many honors, he has been recognized on "Scholars Walk and Wall of Discovery" at the University of Minnesota in 2006 and was a 2007 American Chemical Society Division of Medicinal Chemistry Hall of Fame Inductee. NIH Awards Dr. Duckworth Fellowship Congratulation to Dr. Benjamin Duckworth, in Courtney Aldrich's lab. He has been awarded a two-year fellowship by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for "Investigation of tuberculosis adenylating enzymes using activity probes." NIH Awards Development of Cyanide Antidote Grant Steven Patterson, Ph.D. (Center for Drug Design), has been awarded a three-year, $3.5 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. This is a second NIH grant based upon his continuing research involving the development of a drug against cyanide poisoning. | Upcoming Seminars:
June 6, 2012
Dr. John Goodell Please join us for a seminar by Dr. John Goodell, Department of Chemistry, Illinois State University Title: Reaction Discovery of Densely Functionalized Bicyclo [3.2.1] Octanoid Derivatives using Microfluidic Technologies
Time: 10:30 AM
Venue: TBA
Light refreshments will be available
CDD Seminar Schedule Upcoming Event: July 15, 2012 - July 20, 2012
2012 cCWCS Workshop in Medicinal Chemistry
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN
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