Predicting how well drugs bind to metalloenzymes
Official title: Metalloenzyme binding affinity prediction with VM2
Funded at Verachem, LLC · NIH-10999453 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a smarter way to predict how well new drugs can work with important proteins in the body that help treat diseases like cancer and inflammation, which could make it faster and cheaper to find better treatments for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Verachem, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Germantown, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | October 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $915,334 |
| NIH project number | 5R44GM150323-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10999453 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research include patients with conditions that could be treated by new anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, or antiviral drugs.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions not related to metalloenzyme targets may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving the prediction of how well drugs interact with metalloenzymes, which are important targets for various therapies including anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory treatments. By utilizing advanced computational methods, the project aims to enhance the accuracy of molecular modeling, allowing researchers to better understand and predict the binding affinities of potential drug candidates. This could significantly reduce the time and cost associated with drug development by minimizing the need for extensive laboratory experiments. The ultimate goal is to facilitate the discovery of new and more effective treatments for a range of diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of more effective drugs targeting metalloenzymes, improving treatment options for patients with various conditions.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of predicting drug binding affinities is common, the specific focus on metalloenzymes and the proposed computational methods may offer novel insights and improvements.
Where this research is happening
-
Verachem, LLC
Germantown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Webb, Simon — Verachem, LLC
- Study coordinator: Webb, Simon
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.