Faster drug screening
Drug design is time-consuming and expensive. Identifying a promising starting molecule – a ligand – is key in the design process. A new characterisation method based on NMR spectroscopy probes the interaction of the ligand with its intended target quickly and reliably.
Matthias Bütikofer, Roland Riek and Félix Torres have invented a method, which supports drug discovery at an early stage. The researchers probe the interaction of ligand molecules and their intended targets with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
While NMR spectroscopy is a well-established analytical tool in many research laboratories, it has suffered so far from low signal intensity. The associated long measurement times and high sample amounts have been a disadvantage and have reeled the technique unattractive for fast drug screening.
Now the research group successfully exploits a technique, which enhances the NMR signal by several orders of magnitude. The main advantage of NMR spectroscopy, minimal assay development, now comes with a short screening time and reduced sample amounts.
In the meantime, the inventors have founded the start-up company NexMR, won Venture Kick Stage I & II awards and will develop their business within a BRIDGE project of the Swiss National Science Foundation.
Contact/Links:
Prof. Roland Riek, Biological Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Group
ETH Start-up external page NexMR
Do you want to get more "News for Industry" stories?
external page Follow us on LinkedIn
Are you looking for research partners at ETH Zurich?
Contact ETH Industry Relations