Ajou University Choi Sang-don Joint Research Team Discovers Compound Capable of Suppressing Autoimmune Diseases

Professor Choi Sang-don, Ajou University

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Ajou University announced on the 21st that a joint research team involving Professor Sangdon Choi (Department of Life Sciences and Graduate School of Molecular Science and Technology) at the university has discovered a TNF (tumor necrosis factor) inhibitory compound that controls TNF signaling. The study, titled "Orally Active Small-Molecule TNF Inhibitors That Disrupt the Homotrimerization Interface Improve Mouse Inflammatory Arthritis," was published on November 8 in Science Signaling, a sister journal of the international scientific journal Science. The joint research team included Professor Sangdon Choi and Professor Munseok Kim (Department of Applied Chemical and Biological Engineering and Graduate School of Molecular Science and Technology) from Ajou University, Professor Daehyun Ham from Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, and Senior Researcher Maria Batool from S&K Therapeutics Co., Ltd.

Professor Sangdon Choi explained, "The achievement of this study is presenting the possibility of developing orally administrable autoimmune disease compound therapeutics through a new drug development system based on computer simulation and molecular dynamics," adding, "Using this platform, the development of therapeutics for various diseases can be rapidly advanced." He further stated, "Currently, therapeutic development is underway for psoriasis, lupus, Alzheimer's disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, type 2 diabetes, Crohn's disease, heart failure, and multiple sclerosis using this approach." This research was conducted with support from the National New Drug Development Project of the National New Drug Development Program and the Bio-Medical Technology Development Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea.