Much like invertebrates, plants represent a large source of therapeutic compounds. Plants rely on chemicals for everything, and many of these compounds co-evolved with animals and fungi.
Many of our best drugs are derived from natural sources. Most people will first think of the curative properties of plants such as willows (acetylsalicylic acid, Aspirin) and Pacific Yew (paclitaxel, a cancer-fighting agent).
Aurora Biomed Inc. is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement with Alion Pharmaceuticals and Specs to form a new Ion Channel Consortium that will provide a novel, comprehensive solution for ion channel drug discovery.