A/Prof Bernie Flynn was supported by the NFMRI in 2016-2017, to assist in the optimisation and evaluation of a new class of drug molecules that influence lipid (fat) metabolism. Certain fats are known to contribute to disease more than others, promoting diseases such as type-2 diabetes, fatty-liver disease, heart disease, chronic kidney disease and cancer.
The research undertaken by A/Prof Flynn’s group has resulted in the identification of a key enzyme in lipid metabolism that produces lipid metabolites (toxic fats) that are important in promoting the onset and progression of these diseases. They have also developed drug molecules to intercept this enzyme and reduce the production of toxic fats and promote the formation of good fats, that is, fats that actually reverse the disease process!
The NFMRI funding was awarded to the A/Prof Flynn’s research group to help fund access to contract research organisations and other collaborators necessary in providing critical data to help A/Prof Flynn’s group optimise their drug molecules, so as to afford a safe and effective drug molecule that can be administered orally.
These activities are not usually supported by Government research funding bodies, such as the NHMRC.
The work funded by the NFMRI has been successful and A/Prof Flynn’s group now has a set of drug molecules that are effective in blocking this enzyme and from oral administration. These drug molecules are currently undergoing further optimisation and preclinical development in the expectation of nominating the best performing drug molecule to progress to the clinic.
This research has attracted considerable interest from potential commercial partners and it is expected that in the very near future that a commercial partner will provided the funding required to bring the program into the clinic.
