Emory sets drug research effort

Emory University has announced a new Institute for Drug Discovery that will address diseases such as malaria that are often neglected by commercial researchers and pharmaceutical companies.

The institute’s director, Dr. Dennis Liotta, said Wednesday that about half the center’s work will focus on “commercially neglected” diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and childhood cancer, which often receive insufficient attention from drug companies looking for big profits.

He said there is a great unmet demand for new therapies to treat these diseases, some of which are major problems in developing countries.

In an unusual move, the institute will not only include researchers but also pharmaceutical experts who will perform tests on newly discovered drugs. These experts will test for toxicology, correct dosages and how long a drug lasts in the body.

Liotta said the presence of these experts could help speed the discovery and development of new drugs.

The institute will also bring in young researchers from developing countries.

They will be trained in drug discovery as well as business and legal practices that could help them set up their own companies when they return home, Liotta said.