All Small Molecules articles
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NewsFramework proposed to advance plant-derived anti-inflammatory drug discovery
A review led by researchers at the Naval Medical University proposes a structured framework for evaluating plant-derived anti-inflammatory compounds, warning that pathway inhibition alone is insufficient evidence of direct molecular target engagement.
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NewsPSD-95 inhibition identified as therapeutic target for MEF2C haploinsufficiency
Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have identified PSD-95, a synaptic scaffolding protein, as a potential therapeutic target for neurological disorders associated with loss of the autism-linked gene MEF2C.
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NewsTriptolide plant compound could improve response to epigenetic cancer drugs
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have identified a natural plant compound capable of blocking an enzyme that degrades DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, offering a potential strategy to overcome resistance to epigenetic cancer therapies.
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ArticleStrong binding isn’t enough – why cellular target engagement matters
Promising compounds don’t always engage their targets in living cells. At ELRIG Drug Discovery 2026, Dr Joshua Sopp of Promega discusses why earlier cellular testing matters and how BRETSA could help researchers investigate new drug targets.
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NewsANO6 protein identified as dual therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer
Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center have identified anoctamin 6 (ANO6) as a potential therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer, finding that blocking the protein disrupts both nutrient transfer to tumour cells and immune evasion in preclinical models.
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Newsp53 activation boosts T-cell potency against solid tumours
UCLA researchers have shown that transiently activating the tumour suppressor protein p53 using an investigational MDM2 inhibitor can reduce exhaustion in engineered T cells and significantly improve their ability to kill melanoma cells in vitro.
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NewsHidden bacterial compounds reveal potential cancer drug leads
Researchers have discovered a new family of bacterial natural products that bind the cancer-associated enzyme AKR1C3, revealing potential starting points for drug discovery.
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NewsNew antifungal compound targets resistant fungi without kidney toxicity
Researchers have designed an antifungal compound that targets a molecular feature unique to fungi, showing activity against drug-resistant pathogens while avoiding kidney injury in preclinical studies.
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NewsMLY2 and MLY8 compounds show promise as ulcerative colitis treatment candidates
Two experimental compounds derived from a phase II metabolite have demonstrated improved anti-inflammatory activity in preclinical models of ulcerative colitis.
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NewsBCAT1 enzyme identified as fibrosis target after heart attack
Researchers at Nagoya University have identified BCAT1, an enzyme involved in proline supply for collagen synthesis, as a potential target for reducing cardiac fibrosis following myocardial infarction.
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NewsKRAS inhibition and CTLA-4 blockade could overcome gastric cancer immunotherapy resistance
Researchers have identified oncogenic KRAS as a key driver of immunosuppression in gastric adenocarcinoma.
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NewsCMA restoration may clear senescent cells in ageing tissues
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have identified a cellular recycling pathway whose age-related decline allows senescent ‘zombie’ cells to evade immune clearance.
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NewsInsilico Medicine nominates AI-designed ISM1354 GIPR antagonist for obesity
Insilico Medicine has nominated ISM1354, an AI-designed small-molecule GIPR antagonist, as a preclinical candidate for obesity and related metabolic disorders.
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ArticleDrug discovery in Q3 2026 – what changed and why it matters
Agentic AI, ultralarge virtual screening, molecular glues and human-relevant models were among the key developments in early drug discovery during Q3 2026. Drug Target Review examines what changed, why it matters and what to watch heading into Q4.
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ArticleInduced proximity drugs – why complex formation is not enough
A drug can form exactly the complex it was designed to make and still fail to work. Two recently approved induced proximity drugs show why what happens after complex formation – not formation alone – can decide the outcome.
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NewsMenin inhibitor KO-7246 shows β-cell regeneration in preclinical diabetes models
New preclinical data suggests that menin inhibitor KO-7246 can regenerate functional pancreatic β-cells and sustain improvements in blood glucose control across both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes models.
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ArticleWhy AI struggles with new drug targets – and how physics could help
Virtual screening can assess billions of compounds, but performance can fall on unfamiliar targets. Combining AI with molecular physics could help make predictions more reliable.
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NewsBacterial enzyme found to weaken gut protective hormone signal
A bacterial enzyme produced by Bacteroides vulgatus has been shown to inactivate the intestinal hormone GLP-2, disrupting gut barrier function and aggravating colitis in a preclinical model — with a natural product inhibitor identified as a potential intervention.
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NewsWhy cancer drug CADD522 could offer a new route to treating osteoporosis
A compound originally designed to block a cancer-associated protein has demonstrated unexpected benefits for bone health and metabolism in post-menopausal mice, suggesting a potential new mechanism for osteoporosis drug discovery.
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ArticlePROTACs vs molecular glues: which degrader fits your target?
PROTACs and molecular glues can both remove disease-associated proteins, but choosing between them is not simple. Our new Discovery Toolkit compares the options to help discovery teams choose the right strategy.