Global consortium exploring nature to find the drugs of the future

A large portion of all pharmaceuticals sold at Swedish pharmacies originated in nature. All the same, science has only managed to study a few percent of all known organisms. So with prevailing climate changes and endangered species we can only imagine how many potential medicines are at risk of being lost. To face these challenges, 34 global consortia are currently launched on a mission to lead research and reverse the trend. Among them, Biodiversity2Drugs, brings together experts in 25 countries, including Ulf Göransson, Professor of Pharmacognosy at Uppsala University:

“Across Europe, freezers with thousands of organisms from both animal and plant kingdoms are waiting to be explored. In our laboratory in Uppsala alone, we have a wealth of interesting samples from, among many things, ribbon worms and scorpions. With Biodiversity2Drugs, we are gathering a well-composed team with resources and interdisciplinary expertise to analyze the material with the aim of identifying peptides with the potential to become the drugs of the future.”

Much work will be devoted to animal toxins, which historically have paved the way for numerous important advances. Among the more highly publicized is the Gila monster, whose saliva has resulted in Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug Ozempic. But the list continues with pain-relieving peptides taken from cone snails, chlorotoxin, which – originating in scorpions – enables imaging of brain tumors during ongoing surgery and many more.

“Biodiversity2Drugs will be coordinated by Christian Gruber, Associate Professor at the Medical University of Vienna. Twenty years ago, Christian was a visiting PhD student at Uppsala University’s Faculty of Pharmacy, and in 2023 our paths crossed again at a conference in Australia where we began to discuss the possibilities for a far-reaching collaboration. Today, we have both funding and access to all the infrastructures needed to achieve our goals.”

Ulf Göransson's research team will also provide 3D structuring of potential findings as well as synthesis – an expertise enabling large-scale reproduction of peptides even with limited access to samples. The consortium also includes Jens Carlsson, Professor of Computational Biochemistry at Uppsala University, who will perform digital screening to map interactions between peptides and human receptors, in turn providing information about which leads are relevant to follow.

“Nature is an invaluable source of new chemistry. With Biodiversity2Drugs, we aim to take the first important steps along the road to the next generation of drugs for pain, autoimmune diseases and more – and no less important, do so in a way that proves the need to preserve a rich biodiversity,” states Ulf Göransson.

text: Magnus Alsne, photo: Mikael Wallerstedt