Medicinal chemists have increased the potency of an existing drug tenfold by altering its structure.
Carboranes were used to increase the binding strength of the small molecule inhibitors of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltranferase (known as nampt), resulting in a lower required drug dose. This would minimise side effects and increase the effectiveness of the drug therapy.
The researchers claim this is the first study of this kind and will pave the way for improving drugs used to treat a variety of diseases.
Read more at University of Missouri