A/Prof Bernard Flynn, Monash University, “Sphingosine Kinase-1 inhibitors for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension”, $110,400 (2020-2021)
Pulmonary hypertension is a major unmet medical need. A significant body of evidence from a number of different research groups has implicated a certain class of lipids called sphingolipids as key drivers of pulmonary hypertension progression.
In particular, the enzyme known as sphingosine-kinase-1 (SK1) which produces a sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is of particular relevance to pulmonary hypertension. A/Prof Flynn’s group has generated inhibitors of SK1 that are both more selective and more “drug-like” (able to be administered orally) than existing agents representing a safe and effective means of treating pulmonary hypertension. Funding provided by NFMRI has helping develop the therapy towards proof-of-concept and supporting optimisation, efficacy and safety studies.
