Indian-American molecular biologist, Dr E. Premkumar Reddy’s research received recognition as the startup using his study, AACT Inc., received an award as part of the New York State Biodefense Commercialization Fund, to accelerate the development and commercialization of his innovation.
Reddy’s research on small molecule inhibitors will be used for development of chemical compounds against kinase targets that are involved in viral replication, viral pathogenesis, and modulation of the host immune system in cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2.
According to the announcement made by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, the firm will receive $1,900,000 as part of the award under the startup category. AACT Inc. will work to accelerate the development and commercialization of Dr Reddy’s innovation in the development of small molecule kinase inhibitors as anti-viral therapies.
Professor of Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Dr. Reddy pioneered the development of small molecule inhibitors targeted against oncogenes and cell cycle regulators for cancer therapy.
Osmania University, India alumnus, and cancer specialist Dr Reddy made a number of seminal discoveries that provided a clear understanding of the molecular basis of cancer. He founded the cancer journal Oncogene in 1986 and served as its Editor from 1986 to 2009. In 2010, he founded a second cancer journal, Genes & Cancer for which he currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief, according to his profile.
