All Small Molecules articles
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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.
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NewsFirst-in-class drug targets ‘undruggable’ MYC in blood cancers
A first-in-class experimental drug has demonstrated preclinical activity against treatment-resistant blood cancers by exploiting a newly identified vulnerability between MYC and GSPT1, offering a potential route to one of oncology’s most elusive targets.
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ArticleTargeting childhood myopia progression with 7-methylxanthine
Childhood myopia researcher Dr Klaus Trier explores how 7-methylxanthine targets scleral remodelling and axial elongation, and its potential to slow disease progression and reduce the risk of high myopia.
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NewsAGR2 and FOXM1 identified as prognostic and therapeutic targets in NF-PanNETs
A new study using single-cell RNA sequencing has identified AGR2 as a potential prognostic marker and FOXM1 as a druggable target in non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours, offering new tools to stratify patients and guide treatment strategies.
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ArticleWhy intracellular targets remain a major drug discovery challenge – and how they’re becoming druggable
Many biologically important intracellular targets remain difficult to drug. Dr Rab Prinjha examines how screening within living cells could help tackle them.
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NewsAI identifies experimental drug targeting undruggable cancer protein
Mayo Clinic researchers have used AI to screen nearly 40,000 compounds and identify a small molecule inhibitor targeting GIPC1, a protein previously considered undruggable, with preclinical results showing slowed tumour growth and enhanced chemotherapy response.
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NewsInsilico Medicine nominates AI-designed candidate for ocular diseases
Insilico Medicine has nominated ISM9077, an AI-designed small molecule targeting pathological inflammation, as its 32nd preclinical candidate since 2021, with potential applications across dry AMD, uveitis and dry eye disease.
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NewsAI and genetics identify WNK2 inhibitor for osteoarthritis treatment
Researchers at University of Utah Health have used artificial intelligence and human genetic data to identify a promising early-stage drug candidate targeting WNK2, a protein linked to inherited osteoarthritis, with the lead compound reducing inflammatory gene activity and supporting cartilage cell health in laboratory models.
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NewsNew molecular glue platform broadens E3 ligase targeting for cancer drug development
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have developed a scalable platform for discovering molecular glue degraders, reporting the first metabolically activated example and broadening the scope of targeted protein degradation in cancer.
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NewsTargeting the roots of head and neck cancer: Why MDA-9 matters
A small molecule inhibitor developed at Virginia Commonwealth University has demonstrated the ability to eliminate cancer stem cells and reverse cisplatin resistance in preclinical models of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, offering a potential new strategy to address one of oncology’s most persistent clinical challenges.
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NewsTriple drug combination targets cancer and senescent cells simultaneously
A three-drug combination targeting shared metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer and senescent cells has improved physical performance and extended survival in aged mice, whilst avoiding the thrombocytopenia associated with existing navitoclax-based regimens.
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NewsOral antiviral GHP-88310 candidate shown to block measles transmission in ferret model
An experimental oral antiviral has demonstrated the ability to prevent both airborne and contact-based transmission of a measles surrogate virus in ferrets, offering a potential new tool to complement vaccination during outbreaks.
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NewsInsilico Medicine nominates ISM9528 non-opioid chronic pain candidate using AI
Insilico Medicine has nominated ISM9528, an orally available, brain-penetrant non-opioid candidate targeting a previously unrecognised pain mechanism, as its 31st AI-generated preclinical compound since 2021, with efficacy exceeding morphine in some preclinical models.