NOVARTIS-SUPPORTED IN-KIND PROJECT - 2012

Daria Mochly-Rosen (Chemical and Systems Biology)
Kevin Grimes (Chemical and Systems Biology)
Vjiay Pande (Chemistry)

A student team working with Drs. Kevin Grimes and Vijay Pande at Stanford have identified that a previously approved and commonly used drug inhibits growth of the causative parasite for Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi.  The concentrations at which the drug has activity are higher than the concentrations used in clinical practice, but it might be possible to reposition this compound, or a similar one, for treatment of Chagas disease.  In the collaboration, the Stanford group will provide a list of approximately 20 related compounds and GNF will source from our collection where available.  Where unavailable, the Stanford group will purchase and send to us.  GNF will test the compounds in dose response for growth inhibitory activity on T. cruzi in vitro.  If a promising candidate is identified where the in vitro inhibitory activity and PK parameters suggest in vivo anti-parasitic efficacy is feasible, then GNF will test such a compound in the footpad efficacy model of T. cruzi growth.