MediSynergics LLC

During our past careers at Pfizer Inc. in Groton, CT, our primary focus was on the discovery and development of novel therapeutic agents to treat a variety of CNS disorders. In particular, our expertise developed with Geodon / Zeldox (TM) (ziprasidone) during the R&D stages has enabled us to design and evaluate new chemical matter that could eventually lead to new therapies for depression, schizophrenia and other related human disorders.

Screening of our compounds in this area is offered through the Psychotherapeutic Drug Screening Program (PDSP) at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. With funding provided by the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH), Dr. Bryan Roth and his colleagues test each compound in a variety of receptor and enzyme assays. Recently, we have identified compounds that have high affinity for Kappa and Delta Opioid receptors in the CNS. We are currently exploring additional examples from this class to identify the optimal compound(s) for advanced testing with the goal of selecting a candidate for study in animal models of depression and/or mania.

Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a disease  transmitted by tsetse fly bites in central Africa, caused by a blood-borne parasite. Infection rates vary, but estimates during epidemic periods have ranged as high as 500,000 cases per year, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths as the parasite crosses into the brain of patients, causing neurological disorders and - if left untreated - death. Treatment options are limited, not readily available and generally not well tolerated.

Since 2011, we have partnered with scientists at the Center for World Health and Medicine / St. Louis University (CWHM/SLU) in St. Louis, MO, to discover and evaluate novel treatments for HAT. Using our knowledge and experience in the design and devolpment of CNS targeted drugs, we have identified several distinct chemical templates which can be exploited to create safer and more efficacious medications, especially for Stage 2 HAT patients. CWHM/SLU is collaborating with MediSynergics to assess the potency of these compounds against a number of Trypanosoma brucei strains in an effort to select the best compounds for development and human efficacy studies.

A second collaboration to conduct in vivo studies has been established with Dr. Kojo Mensa-Wilmot of the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. This is part of a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) grant proposal through a NIH-SBIR funding opportunity.

In April 2016 we were awarded a 2-year, SBIR Phase 1 grant, totaling $600,000, by the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). With this generous grant we have significantly increased our efforts into finding better treatment options for HAT.  During the first year we will prepare a number of chemically similar compounds for in vitro assessment at SLU.  The second year will focus upon optimization of potency in an animal model of HAT and determination of the mechanism of action for our lead compound(s).

We also were selected as participants in the Technology Incubator Program (TIP) sponsored by the University of Connecticut. As such, we have moved into new, state-of-the-art labs in the annex to the Cell and Genome Sciences building located at 400 Farmington Avenue in Farmington, CT. We have also hired our first employee to prepare the novel compounds disclosed in our NIH grant application.

Cancer is a word which arouses a wide range of emotions for patients and their loved ones, especially fear.  While great progress has been made in recent years, safe and effective treatments for a number of human cancers are still needed.

MediSynergics, LLC is sending its newest compounds for activity screening conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Through a program established by NCI, we have tested compounds in their NCI-60 panel, which looks at their ability to inhibit the growth of 60 diffent human cancer cell lines, including those involved with leukemia, renal, CNS, lung and kidney cancers. Through this effort, we have identified novel compounds which may serve as leads in discovery of new oncology medications. 

As a small business, we are committed to working with our colleagues at academic institutions to promote scientific research and to encourage students to seriously consider careers in science and health care.  To this end, we have recently established a collabo-ration with the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) in West Hartford, CT. Under the guidance of professors of the Chemistry Department at USJ, selected students will undertake independent projects designed by MediSynergics. 

     We have also partnered with the USJ School of Pharmacy, located in Hartford, CT, to support their NIH grant application  for the study of novel agents to treat breast cancer.

MediSynergics, LLC continues to file new patent applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, DC, for the use of our novel compounds in the treatment of patients with CNS and parasitic diseases.

Eight US Patents have been assigned to MediSynergics:

                                US-9,126,891 - Cycloalkyl-diamines (September 8, 2015)

                                US-9,169,237 - Antiprotozoal Amidine Compounds (October 27, 2015)

                                        Two other applications are pending in the USPTO.