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Novel Screening Technique Identifies New Effects Of Approved Drugs For Cardiovascular Disease
Sue McGreevey - Massachusetts General Hospital

2/15/2010

Drugs that target the way cells convert nutrients into energy could offer new approaches to treating a range of conditions including heart attack and stroke. Using a new way to screen for potential drugs, a team led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers has identified several FDA-approved agents, including an over-the-counter anti-nausea drug, that can shift cellular energy metabolism processes in animals. Their findings, being published online in Nature Biotechnology, may open the door to new therapeutic strategies for several serious health problems.

"Shifts in cells' energy production pathways take place naturally during development and in response to demanding activities - like sprinting versus long-distance running. They are also known to be involved in several disease states," explains Vamsi Mootha, MD, of the MGH Center for Human Genetic Research, who led the study. "We wanted to identify compounds that can safely induce this shift - those that have previously been discovered are too toxic - and investigate their therapeutic potential in animal models."

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Additional Information: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/179163.php