From Research to Drug: It’s a Matter of Chemistry
The idea of Lead Discovery Siena (LDS) was conceived in 2000 by a group of researchers and professors of the Pharmacy, Chemistry and Technology Department of Siena University. The company was founded in 2012 as a small University spinoff and represents today a successful institution engaged in the rational organization of new molecules of pharmaceutical interest through modeling techniques, library synthesis and pharmacological evaluation.
The company, managed by one of the founders, Maurizio Botta, Professor at the University of Siena, is mainly involved in projects concerning the oncological and anti-infective fields. LDS research is focused on cancer and, in particular, on neuroblastoma, a specific kind of brain tumor which afflicts children, and glioblastoma, both without efficient therapies. The President, Maurizio Botta, explains in his interview the targets reached thanks to a molecular design and synthesis project, capable of determining an important disease regression.
Annalaura Brai, chemist at LDS, then explains the researcher’s role in the company, from the first phase of identification of the target protein most indicated for the development of drugs, to drug synthesis and bio-distribution tests.
LDS has also established many collaborations with academic institutions, hospitals and national and international research centers for project development and know-how exchange in the field of oncology and anti-infectives.
LDS has been incubated in TLS since 2016.

For more information: leaddiscoverysiena.it/