Chemical Biology
Our aim is to explore the future possibility of novel therapeutics for incurable diseases. Currently we are mainly focusing on the projects as follows:
1. Development of antiviral drugs that are effective against existing drug resistant viruses (→ Refer to Drug Discovery)
2. Splicing control drugs that can be used for treating genetic disorders (→ Refer to RNA Disease)
3. Down syndrome causative kinase DYRK1A inhibitor
Dyrk1A (dual-specificity tyrosine-(Y)-phosphorylation-regulate kinase 1A) is an essential kinase for the development and the function of the brain. It has been considered that excessive Dyrk1A in Down syndrome is one of the causes of the disease. To develop a potent and selective inhibitor against Dyrk1A will help to elucidate the molecular mechanism of the brain development in individuals with Down syndrome. We have reported a new Dyrk1A inhibitor INDY and have presented its possibility as a new molecular targeting drug.
https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms1090
Further we developed an innovative Dyrk1A inhibitor FINDY which acts on intermediates based on the finding that kinase controls its own expression.
http://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms11391
4. Next-generation analgesics with no adverse effects of opioids
5. Next-generation anticancer drugs with protecting healthy tissues