Nucleoside Drug Development & Testing

Accelerate Your Drug Discovery With Southern Research

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Nucleoside Programs at Southern Research

Southern Research is a leading contract research organization (CRO) that specializes in the development and testing of nucleoside drugs. We have a team of experienced scientists and researchers who are experts in all aspects of nucleoside drug development, including:

    • Design and synthesis of nucleoside analogs
    • In vitro and in vivo testing of nucleoside analogs
    • Assessment of the safety and efficacy of nucleoside analogs
    • Development of manufacturing processes for nucleoside analogs

We offer a comprehensive range of nucleoside drug development services, including:

    • Feasibility studies: We can help you assess the feasibility of developing a nucleoside drug for your target disease.
    • Lead optimization: We can help you optimize your nucleoside lead compound to improve its safety and efficacy.
    • Preclinical testing: We can conduct all of the necessary preclinical testing to evaluate the safety and efficacy of your nucleoside drug candidate in animal models.
    • Manufacturing development: We can help you develop a manufacturing process for your nucleoside drug candidate so that it can be produced at scale for clinical trials.

If you are developing a nucleoside drug candidate, we encourage you to contact us to learn more about how we can help you accelerate your drug development.

Treating a Variety of Viral Infections

Nucleosides are used in drug development to create nucleotide analogs, which are synthetic molecules that are similar to the natural nucleotides that make up DNA and RNA. Nucleotide analogs can be used to inhibit the replication of viruses and cancer cells.

Nucleotide analogs are typically not very effective orally because they are poorly absorbed from the gut and are quickly broken down by enzymes in the body. However, nucleosides can be used to create nucleoside prodrugs, which are masked nucleotide analogs that are resistant to breakdown by enzymes in the body. Once inside a cell, nucleoside prodrugs are converted into active nucleotide analogs by enzymes that are present in all cells.

Nucleosides have been used to develop a number of successful drugs, including:

    • Antiviral drugs: acyclovir, ganciclovir, valganciclovir, lamivudine, abacavir, tenofovir, emtricitabine, remdesivir, sofosbuvir
    • Anticancer drugs: clofarabine, gemcitabine, cladribine, fludarabine
    • Immunosuppressants: azathioprine, mercaptopurine

Nucleosides are a promising class of compounds for drug development because they are relatively easy to synthesize, can be produced at scale, and are typically more specific and less toxic than other types of drugs. Here are some examples of how nucleosides are used in drug development:

    • Antiviral drugs: Nucleosides can be used to develop antiviral drugs that target specific viruses. For example, the antiviral drug acyclovir is a nucleoside analog that is used to treat herpes simplex virus infections.
    • Anticancer drugs: Nucleosides can also be used to develop anticancer drugs. For example, the anticancer drug gemcitabine is a nucleoside analog that is used to treat a variety of cancers, including pancreatic cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.
    • Immunosuppressants: Nucleosides can also be used to develop immunosuppressants, which are drugs that suppress the immune system. For example, the immunosuppressant drug azathioprine is a nucleoside analog that is used to treat autoimmune diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Nucleosides are a versatile class of compounds that can be used to develop a variety of drugs for different diseases. By understanding how nucleosides work, scientists can develop new and more effective drugs.

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