Novel ribosome-building drugs for small cell lung cancer (RiBi inhibitors)
Official title: Novel Non-Mutagenic Ribosome Biogenesis Inhibitors for the Treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer
Funded at Palade Therapeutics INC. · NIH-11408329 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new class of medicines aims to stop ribosome production in small cell lung cancer cells to slow or stop tumor growth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Palade Therapeutics INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $404,087 |
| NIH project number | 1R43CA314797-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408329 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with small cell lung cancer, especially those whose disease is driven by MYC and relies on high ribosome biogenesis.
✕Less likely to help
Findings may not benefit patients whose cancer does not rely on ribosome biogenesis or who have contraindications to this type of therapy.
What this research studies
This project focuses on developing next-generation RiBi inhibitors that selectively block ribosome biogenesis in aggressive small cell lung cancer. Researchers used a special high-throughput screen called Ribo-SNAP to find compounds that halt ribosome assembly without causing DNA damage. The lead candidates were chosen because they block a key RiBi step and trigger cancer cell death while sparing healthy cells. The work combines molecular experiments to understand how MYC-driven cancers depend on ribosome production with tests in living human cells to evaluate safety and effectiveness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could provide a new treatment option that directly targets the biology driving very aggressive lung cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Early studies have shown that targeting ribosome biogenesis can kill cancer cells with manageable toxicity in some models, but DNA-damage concerns have limited prior efforts.
Where this research is happening
-
Palade Therapeutics INC.
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Satyal, Sanjeev — Palade Therapeutics INC.
- Study coordinator: Satyal, Sanjeev
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.