The Drug Discovery World Podcast Innovative approaches to improving drug discovery
Jan 2, 2025
The discussion kicks off with the impact of long COVID on cognitive functions, such as brain fog, and the urgent need for targeted drug development. Experts explore the biological changes linked to post-COVID cognitive impairment, urging the pharmaceutical sector to prioritize this issue. The landscape of the UK life sciences ecosystem is highlighted, showcasing collaborative efforts in cancer treatment innovation. Additionally, the conversation shifts to fragment-based drug discovery and click chemistry, emphasizing their potential to revolutionize therapeutic effectiveness.
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Post-COVID Cognitive Impairment
- Post-COVID cognitive impairment is a growing concern, affecting 20-30% of COVID patients and 70% of long-COVID sufferers.
- This "brain fog" significantly impacts patients' quality of life and ability to work, posing societal and economic challenges.
Biological Mechanisms of Cognitive Impairment
- Neuroinflammation, likely triggered by the virus, is a suspected mechanism for post-COVID cognitive impairment.
- This presents a drug development opportunity, as drugs targeting neuroinflammation are already being developed for other brain disorders.
Drug Development Opportunities and Challenges
- To invest in drug development for this condition, methodological issues like reliable measurement of cognitive impairment need to be addressed.
- Existing methodologies from other cognitive impairment studies can be borrowed, and regulators are familiar with cognitive data as trial outcomes.