A recent study spearheaded by chemists from the University of New Brunswick has the potential to transform the manufacturing process of certain medications. Collaborating with scholars from Zhejiang and Westlake universities in China, the UNB researchers have unveiled the mechanism through which certain plants synthesize drugs utilized in cancer treatment.
Yang Qu, an associate professor of chemistry at UNB leading the research team, highlighted that understanding the plant-based drug production process could significantly expedite the development of the drug in laboratory settings. Qu emphasized a remarkable enhancement in production efficiency, enabling the drug to be manufactured at levels nearly 1,000 times higher than previous estimates.
The findings, featured in this month’s issue of the scholarly publication Science, shed light on the complexities associated with manufacturing vinblastine, a drug crucial for combating various cancers such as bladder, brain, and testicular cancer. Despite its therapeutic significance, vinblastine’s production poses significant challenges as it is exclusively derived from the Madagascar periwinkle plant, which yields minimal quantities of the drug.
Qu underscored the inefficiency of the plant-based production process, revealing that a substantial amount of plant material—100 kilograms—is necessary to extract merely one gram of vinblastine. Additionally, the drug’s intricate nature escalates the difficulty and costs associated with its chemical synthesis.
The researchers unraveled the Madagascar periwinkle’s unique approach to drug synthesis, employing “scaffold proteins” to facilitate the chemical reactions essential for drug production. Qu drew an analogy between scaffold proteins and construction site scaffolding, noting that they streamline the assembly process, enhancing efficiency and speed.
By integrating the identified scaffold protein into the plant’s microbial system, researchers aim to optimize the drug synthesis process, paving the way for enhanced industrial-scale production. While the medical breakthrough has not yet translated into immediate production acceleration, Qu expressed optimism that it brings the industrial production of the drug closer to realization.
Qu anticipates tangible real-world applications stemming from the research in the foreseeable future, offering promising prospects for advancing drug manufacturing practices.