EFMC - European Federation for Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology

🔎 Introducing our second presenter for the 20th MedChemBioOnline event. Are you intrigued or enthusiastic about transforming initial hits into drug-like compounds? Join Isabell Kemker as she discusses the process of Turning Hits into Drug-Like Compounds. 📆 March 4 | 16:30 to 18:30 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dsXxDA5e

The EFMC Yearbook has been released! 📘 Dive into it to swiftly learn about everything concerning EFMC, its members, and its initiatives. It's your ultimate guide to all the essential information!

✨ Another edition of the Young Scientist Network mentoring programme is back! ✨ Are you a PhD student or Post-doc looking to connect with high-profile mentors? Here’s your chance to be part of the 2025 edition of the mentoring programme, running from September 2025 to June 2026. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity! Apply now: https://lnkd.in/dGA-d-k ⏳ Application deadline: April 15, 2025

🔎 Meet our 1st speaker - 20th MedChemBioOnline. Curious or passionate about Peptide Drug Discovery! Join Christian Heinis to hear about Synthesis and Screening Large Libraries of Cyclic Peptides for Drug Discovery. 📆 March 4 | 16:30 to 18:30 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dsXxDA5e

Do not miss the next edition of the Reviewer Academy! 📆 February 20 | 17:00-18:00 CET 💻 https://lnkd.in/eT_n3qaG

👨🔬 #MedChemBioConversation is around again with another exciting interview! 🌟 Please, meet our scientist of the month: Johanna Hutching from the Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP) in Germany 🧪 🔗 https://lnkd.in/exGBFhQp

📰 EFMC Literature Spotlight 📰 This month's literature spotlight focuses on the recently published article "Carborane Conjugates with Ibuprofen, Fenoprofen and Flurbiprofen: Synthesis, Characterization, COX Inhibition Potential and In Vitro Activity” by Sonam et al., published in ChemBioChem. Cancer is the second leading cause of premature death in most countries, and it might become the top cause of death over the course of this century. Chemotherapeutic agents have demonstrated considerable efficacy as anticancer drugs in treating a variety of tumors. Unfortunately, chemotherapy can damage healthy, fast-growing cells, leading to significant side effects. Thus, there is the urgent need for the discovery of novel anticancer drugs. Sonam et al. combined two different pharmacophores in a single molecule aiming to develop innovative agents with a dual mode of action and boosted efficacy. They merged non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with carboranes. NSAIDs inhibit COX (cyclooxygenase) enzymes which are overexpressed in some tumors, while carboranes are promising candidates in medicinal chemistry due to their ability to deliver a high concentration of boron selectively to cancer cells. The NSAIDs - ibuprofen, flurbiprofen, and fenoprofen - were connected with 1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane via a variety of spacers (e.g. methylene, ethylene or propylene). Three sets of carborane-NSAID conjugates were synthesized and the conjugates with methylene spacers turned out to have the highest COX inhibition potential and were able to suppress the growth of cancer cells. The carborane-flurbiprofen conjugate, featuring an ethylene linker, was the most the most potent and selective across a panel of cell lines. These cell lines originated from tumors and were associated with inflammation. However, the compound effect was observed in the COX-2-negative cell line, HCT116, highlighting that the antitumor activity does not involve COX inhibition. The authors proposed that the compound acted via a cytostatic mode of action related to low ROS (reactive oxygen species) production. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/ejwyJsAv

📢 Do not miss the 20th MedChemBioOnline, tackling Emerging Strategies in Peptide Drug Discovery! Peptides are highly promising sources for new therapeutics due to their unique properties and ability to engage traditionally “undruggable” targets. Advances in peptide synthesis and modification, as well as innovative screening approaches, have significantly propelled peptide drug discovery in recent years. This edition of MedChemBioOnline highlights the strategies being harnessed by research leaders to identify peptide hits and translate them into potential new medicines. 📆 March 4, 2025 (16:30 to 18:30 CET) 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dsXxDA5e

📄 The February issue of MedChemBioWatch is now online! In this edition, discover the EFMC Yearbook 2025 release, the latest updates in MedChem and ChemBio, and key upcoming events to watch out for! Check it out now! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eNZCyxvm

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science aligns deeply with the values we uphold at EFMC. We are committed to fostering an inclusive scientific community where talent and passion are the only defining factors—regardless of gender or background. In all our activities, we strive to create opportunities for every scientist to thrive, ensuring that excellence in science knows no boundaries. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres says: “On the tenth anniversary of this important day, and as we reflect on 30 years since the Beijing Declaration, let’s help pave a path to STEM careers that women and girls deserve – and our world needs”. On the UN website one can read : Gender equality in science is crucial for building a better future for all, yet women and girls continue to face systemic barriers and biases in pursuing scientific careers. Closing the gender gap in science requires breaking stereotypes, promoting role models to inspire girls, supporting women's advancement through targeted programs, and fostering inclusive environments through policies and actions that promote inclusion, diversity and equity. #WomenInScience #GirlsInScience #WomenInSTEM