The UAB, ESTEVE and the ALBA Synchrotron come together to give insight into new class of inhibitors against pain

The pharmaceutical company ESTEVE has developed new inhibitors against pain. However, it still remains unknown how these drugs interact with their potential target. This collaboration project will enable scientific expertise from the UAB and the ALBA Synchrotron to offer new information about the interactions, active site and mechanism of action of the developed drugs and the therapeutic target. These results may help to improve the understanding of the effects of the inhibitors and provide key information to improve their properties. Additionally, a complete experimental platform will be set-up, opening the door to further studies and collaborations.
 
As a first step, the research will be carried out at the Protein Production Platform of the UAB to obtain the pure protein complexed with the inhibitors. Secondly, X-ray crystallography studies will be performed at the biolab and XALOC beamline in the ALBA Synchrotron.
 
The Protein Production Platform (PPP) belongs to the UAB Scientific Technical Service sePBioES and is also one of the units of the Spanish Singular Scientific Technical Infrastructure NANBIOSIS. The PPP offers a tailored service for the design, production and purification of recombinant proteins using both prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression systems.
 
This project is an example of a public-private collaboration and will foster the synergies and relationships between the industrial and academic sector, a key factor for research and innovation.
 
ESTEVE is a chemical – pharmaceutical group leader in Spain and with significant international presence. Founded in 1929 and chaired by Joan Esteve, the company currently employs 2,473 people and has affiliate companies and industrial facilities in Europe, USA, Mexico and China. Total sales in 2016 reached 916 million euros. The company maintains a strong commitment to excellence, devoting all its efforts to promoting health and the improvement of quality of life. The research is the hallmark of ESTEVE, which has a portfolio of highly innovative projects whose ultimate goal is to provide answers to medical needs not covered properly. Social commitment is another one of its hallmarks and thereforeall collaborative social projects in which the company becomes involved are in line with its vision of CSR.