Hedgehog Drug Development Services

Alfa Cytology is a specialized provider offering customized solutions for the design, development, and characterization of inhibitors that target the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. With our extensive expertise in drug discovery and development, we provide a comprehensive range of services to support your research and development endeavors in this specific area.

Introduction to Hedgehog Pathway

Hh is a signaling pathway that plays a crucial role in embryonic development and tissue homeostasis. It is named after the Drosophila protein Hedgehog, which was initially discovered to regulate embryonic segmentation in fruit flies. Aberrant activation or dysregulation of the Hh pathway has been implicated in the development and progression of various cancers, including leukemia. In leukemia, the Hh pathway can become overactivated, leading to uncontrolled cell growth, survival, and resistance to therapy.

Fig. 1. Simplified overview of the Hh signaling pathway in the (A) inactive state and (B) active state. (Jamieson, C. et al., 2020)

We can design inhibitors aimed at Smoothened (SMO) and glioma-associated oncogene homolog (GLI) based on their structural characteristics, and develop key targets for new drugs to treat malignant tumors, including acute myeloid leukemia.

SMO Inhibitors

• Design and Synthesis
  We can design and synthesize alkaloid cyclopamine based on its structure. Furthermore, we aim to optimize the structure of cyclopamine derivatives to enhance their specificity, potency, and solubility, enabling their potential utilization in clinical trials.
• Drug Screen
  Leveraging our drug development system and various screening methods, we possess the capacity to screen a vast array of compound libraries for alkaloid cyclopamine and identify novel SMO antagonists. Subsequently, we can verify and optimize their functionalities to enhance their potential for further development.
• Combination Therapy
  In comparison to monotherapy, the combination of glasdegib with chemotherapy demonstrates superior clinical activity in treating acute myeloid leukemia. We offer expertise in the development of methods for combining glasdegib with chemotherapy, allowing you to explore optimal combinations of chemotherapy drugs.
• Addressing Drug Resistance
  Our service in glasdegib and chemotherapy combination development will provide valuable insights into overcoming resistance observed in specific tumor types towards SMO inhibitors.

GLI Inhibitors

Evaluation of Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitors

We are capable of conducting comprehensive analyses to assess the efficacy of Hedgehog Pathway inhibitors and evaluate their potential for further advancement in subsequent stages of development.

Advantages of Our Services

• Experience in the development of multiple inhibitors.
• A database of a large number of therapeutic drugs.
• Accurate service and content.
• High-quality experimental results.
• Development of combined therapy for hedgehog pathway inhibitor.

Alfa Cytology is committed to providing high-quality targeted drug development services, with a focus on finding compounds that inhibit the Hedgehog pathway, providing new directions for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia or other types of hematological tumors. Contact us to discuss your specific needs and how our services can support your inhibitor development endeavors targeting the Hedgehog pathway.