Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the US, accounting for nearly 40% of all deaths annually. A high cholesterol level is a well-known risk factor for heart disease. Although blood cholesterol (low density lipoprotein, LDL-C) can be lowered using a number of marketed drugs, only 38% of patients taking these drugs are achieving the desired goals. Furthermore, patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, who have markedly elevated cholesterol levels, respond poorly to current drug therapies, and are at very high risk of premature cardiovascular disease. These and other patients will benefit from an aggressive treatment of hypercholesterolemia. A newly discovered protein, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) plays an important role in cholesterol homeostasis by the expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) on the cell membrane. In fact, gain- and loss-of-function PCSK9 variations in human populations are associated with hyper- or hypo cholesterolemia respectively. Therefore, PCSK9 inhibition has emerged as a promising option to treat hypercholesterolemia. Indeed, several strategies have been applied in the development of PCSK9 inhibitors including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), and recently FDA has approved two anti-PCSK9 mAbs. However, no orally administrable small molecules are approved. Thus, our approach is to develop a small molecule against PCSK9. Using our novel and disruptive HPC-based platform, we have characterized PCSK9:FGF-AB crystal structure at the atomic level and generated numerous trajectories via molecule dynamic simulations. We have already identified a few hits and tested in experimental assays. We plan to use our in MD simulated trajectories for in silico ?lead-optimization? and generation of novel derivatives of hit molecules. Subsequently, we will validate the hits in cellular and functional assays by directly measuring LDLc uptake.
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the leading cause of death and disability for men and women in the USA. Hypercholesterolemia constitutes a major risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis and consequently ASCVD. Despite the availability of statins and other lipid-modified therapies (LMTs), many patients remain at high risk for ASCVD due to elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C). Newly discovered protein, proprotein convertase subtilisin-like/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) plays an important role in regulating circulating LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) via LDL receptor (LDLR). Using our proprietary novel and disruptive HPC- based discovery platform, we have discovered small molecules that block PCSK9-LDLR interactions. If successful, these molecules will become a new class of drugs for the treatment of high cholesterol in patients whose cholesterol is not controlled with existing therapies.
