Stroke Drug Development Targeting Noncoding RNAs

Noncoding RNAs, mainly including microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), play important physiological and pathological roles by controlling transcription and translation. Studies have shown that ncRNAs are involved in many pathogenic processes of stroke, such as excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis, which in turn lead to secondary brain injury. Therefore, for the different pathways of ncRNAs involved in stroke, Ace Therapeutics provides a one-stop research service platform to accelerate the development of your stroke drugs targeting ncRNAs.

Fig. 1 Function of some ischemic stroke-related lncRNAs.

High Throughput Screening for ncRNAs Targets

The identification of stroke-related ncRNAs targets is the most important aspect of drug development. Since RNA targets usually do not have an "active site", Ace Therapeutics screens and identifies ncRNAs-related targets in stroke based on bioinformatic approaches to regulate RNA folding, mRNA splicing, ribosome processing, and other predicted structural features.

We have established a system for targeting RNA to screen small molecules that can be screened by high-throughput means to target ncRNAs to screen drug candidates. On the one hand, we base on the existing small molecule library, including ultra-large compound library, natural product library, and fragment library, for drug candidate screening, and on the other hand, we are continuously expanding our library of active molecules targeting RNA-specific structures to improve the hit rate of our studies.

We generate safer and more efficient drug candidates such as antisense oligonucleotides (ASO), and RNA interference (RNAi) by means of RNA chemical modification techniques, and modulation of gene expression.

Preclinical Evaluation of Drug Candidates for the Treatment of Stroke

Following the screening of drug candidates targeting ncRNAs, we provide a complete pharmacological activity assessment against stroke. We also provide pharmacokinetic activity evaluation to test the stability of the drug candidates. In addition, safety evaluation is critical for drug candidates targeting RNA, which directly determines whether the drug can be successfully translated. With this in mind, we offer a comprehensive range of testing services on drug candidates targeting ncRNAs.

• We establish various in vitro and in vivo models of stroke with ncRNA abnormalities through drug administration and genetic manipulation.
• We offer RNA pull-down assays, microarray analysis, northern blotting, immunoprecipitation, RNA-RIP assays, CHIRP-Seq assays, and other techniques to detect the effects of drug candidates on stroke through regulation of ncRNAs.
• We address the severe off-target effects of drug candidates by screening for suitable drug delivery systems.
• With hybridization techniques enzyme-linked immunoassay, electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, high performance liquid chromatography, and chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry combination, we quantify drug candidates and their metabolites.

Based on the design of the experiments, we provide personalized and customized services for the development of stroke drugs targeting ncRNAs. If you would like to learn more about our services, please feel free to contact us.

1. Chen, M., et al., Long non-coding rnas and circular rnas: Insights into microglia and astrocyte mediated neurological diseases. Front Mol Neurosci, 2021. 14: p. 745066.
2. Bao, M. H., et al., Long non-coding rnas in ischemic stroke. Cell Death Dis, 2018. 9(3): p. 281.