Current treatments to curtail kidney damage in lupus are often either ineffective or can cause side effects so serious that the treatment must be discontinued. Now, an unusual collaboration between two scientists working on very different types of research projects may provide a better way to prevent kidney damage in people with lupus. Ellman and Glick were able to combine their expertise to search for potentially therapeutic compounds for lupus. Using their screening techniques, the scientists discovered a compound that inhibits the binding of anti-DNA antibodies in mice.
Testing is under way in lupus-prone mice to see if the compound can also prevent kidney damage.
If all goes well, a new and potentially very valuable drug may be available for people with lupus. Non nucleic acid inhibitors of protein-DNA interactions identified through combinatorial chemistry.