Laboratory updates: events, papers, talks, patents, and research notes.
Research assistant Kristina Pomeshchikova gave a presentation titled “PDSTP — Antiviral drug with a novel mechanism of action, efficacy and safety profile” at a student research competition held as part of the 3rd International Conference “Innovative Medicines: From Molecule to Patient,” and took FIRST PLACE. For this, you’ll need to create a single, comprehensive image—by combining two separate ones.
A key paper has been published in the journal Antiviral Research (10.1016/j.antiviral.2026.106550) by laboratory staff, detailing the discovery and a series of preclinical studies of a new drug candidate for the treatment of influenza. The lead compound targets the influenza virus hemagglutinin, thereby blocking the virus’s ability to fuse with the host cell membrane.
In the leading specialized journal Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6c01530), we—in collaboration with international colleagues—have published an article on virulence inhibitors for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. For the first time, it has been demonstrated that small molecules possessing such activity are effective in in vivo experiments. These molecules are highly promising, as they are virtually immune to the development of resistance—a factor of particular importance for anti-infective drugs today.
During the evening program on Moscow FM radio, Vadim Makarov—Head of the Laboratory of Biomedical Chemistry at the Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences—discussed the importance of preventing seasonal illnesses and answered questions about vaccination and the spread of infections. Full episode of the "Evening Roll Call" (Vechernyaya Poverka) program on Moscow FM radio:
Laboratory Head Vadim Makarov participated in the 7th International Forum "Virology Days 2026" in St. Petersburg as a moderator and delivered a presentation titled "Development of broad-spectrum host-targeted antiviral drugs, using the drug candidate PDSTP as an example."
The U.S. National Institutes of Health has decided to continue funding a joint Russian-American project to develop an HIV treatment—in which the Laboratory of Biomedical Chemistry is participating—and has allocated funds for the development of a novel drug formulation.
Vladislav Lobanov presented a report titled "Benzothiophene Derivatives Inhibiting Mycobacterium tuberculosis Virulence In Vivo" at the 7th Russian Conference on Medicinal Chemistry with international participation, "MedChem – Russia 2026."
Vadim Albertovich Makarov, Head of the Laboratory, has been awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the State Duma Committee on Health Protection of the Russian Federation.
