(June 12, 2024) Webinar: Development of PET theranostics targeting the molecular chaperones eHsp90 and HtpG for cancer and infectious disease.
In this webinar we discussed the role of the molecular chaperone Hsp90 in aggressive cancers and the development of targeted therapies. Hsp90 inhibitors have shown promise in clinical trials, stabilizing the disease in responsive patients. A notable discovery from Dr.Haystead’s lab identified a new form of Hsp90, eHsp90, expressed on metastatic tumor cells, allowing for targeted diagnostic and therapeutic applications. This was demonstrated in a clinical trial for advanced prostate cancer using the probe HS-196. Additionally we discussed the lab developing theranostic agents targeting eHsp90, and expanding their research to bacterial infections by targeting HtpG in Borrelia burgdorferi, aiming to create agents that detect and eliminate infections, addressing the need for improved diagnostics and treatments for antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
About the Speaker (s)
Dr. Timothy Haystead
Timothy Haystead, PhD, is a Professor of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology at Duke University. Dr. Haystead earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Dundee University in the UK and completed his postdoctoral work at the University of Washington in Seattle under Nobel Laureate Edwin Krebs.
Dr. Haystead started his independent career at the University of Virginia in 1991, where he focused on understanding protein kinase and phosphatase signaling pathways using small molecule inhibitors. His innovative work led to the creation of the purinome mining platform, which eventually led to the founding of his first company, Serenex Inc., in Durham, NC. In 2000, Dr. Haystead moved to Duke University.
Serenex used Dr. Haystead’s platform to discover and develop the first fully synthetic Hsp90 inhibitor, which entered clinical trials in 2008. After Pfizer acquired Serenex that same year, Dr. Haystead continued to innovate in developing Hsp90 as a target and creating highly selective inhibitors of purine-utilizing enzymes. This work has resulted in novel imaging probes and methods to selectively kill tumor cells using tethered molecules.
Dr. Haystead’s current research focuses on developing these advanced tools as theranostic PET agents for cancer and infections. His second company, EydisBio, also based in Durham, NC, has licensed one of his molecules from Duke to target TNF-mediated signaling.