Asim K Debnath, PhD

Title

Asim K. Debnath, PhD

Head, Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design
Member, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute

Research Area

Dr. Debnath's research focus  is to identify new antiviral drugs by state-of-the art drug design methods. Ongoing projects include: 

  • Identification of  small molecule entry inhibitors that target specifically HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 and disrupt it’s binding to the T-cell surface receptor CD4.
  • Identification of the best combination of latency reversing agents (LRAs) to facilitate eradication of HIV-1 from virus reservoirs by drugs, antibody drug conjugates (ADC) or immune system. This is expected to help in achieving functional cure of HIV-1.
  • Identification of novel agents for pathogen inactivation of blood products.

Contact Information

Email: ADebnath@nybc.org
Phone: +1 (212) 570-3373

Lab Personnel

  • Francesca Curreli, Ph.D. Staff Scientist

Funding Support

  • NIH R01AI104416  PI: Debnath 02/15/13– 01/31/23 "Design of inhibitors targeted to the CD4 binding site on HIV-1 gp120"

Patents

  1. US Patent No. 5,798,206. Neurath, A.R., Debnath, A.K., Jiang, S., Yun-Yao Li and Strick, N. Methods for screening of test compounds for inhibiting binding of a CD4-HIV‑1 complex to a chemokine receptor. Filed January 10, 1997.  Issued August 25, 1998.
  2. US Patent 5,985,275. Neurath, A.R., Debnath, A.K., and Jiang, S. Beta-Lactoglobulin modified with aromatic anhydride compound for preventing HIV infection. Filed August 28, 1996, Issued November 16, 1999.
  3. US Patent 5,952,009.Neurath, A.R., Debnath, A.K., and Jiang, S.  Methods for preventing the transmission of or treating patients infected with herpesvirus. Filed August 28, 1996; Issued September 14, 1999­.
  4. US patent 5,985,313­. Neurath, A.R., Debnath, A.K., Jiang, S., Strick, A., and Dow, G.J.   Methods for decreasing the frequency of transmission of viral infection using cellulose acetate phthalate or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate excipients. Filed July 8, 1998. Issued November 16, 1999.
  5. US Patent No. 6,165,493.  Neurath, A.R., Jiang, S., Debnath, A.K., Strick, N., and Dow, G.J. Methods and composition for decreasing the frequency of HIV, herpesvirus and sexually transmitted bacterial infections. Filed October 20, 1998.  Issued December 26, 2000.
  6. US Patent No.6,596,497. Jiang, S. and Debnath, A.K., Screening of antiviral compounds targeted to the HIV-1 gp41 core structure. Filed March 14, 2000. Issued July 22, 2003.
  7. US Patent No.6,727,240. Neurath, A.R., Jiang, S. and Debnath, A.K., Methods for preventing HIV-1 or HIV-2 infection. Filed October 21, 1994. Issued April 27, 2004.
  8. US Patent No.7,241,803.  Jiang, S. and Debnath, A.K. Compounds for inhibition of HIV infection by blocking HIV entry. Filed November 12, 2003. Issued July 10, 2007.
  9. US Patent No. 8,299,093. Debnath, A. K., Zhang, H. and Curreli, F. Small molecule inhibitors of retroviral assembly and maturation. Filed August 8, 2008, issued October 30, 2012.
  10. US Patent No. 8,324,153. Debnath, A. K., Zhang, H. and Curreli, F. Antiviral cell-penetrating peptides. Filed May 6, 2008. Issued December 4, 2012.
  11. US Patent No. 8,546,439. Debnath, A. K., Zhang, H. and Curreli, F. Small molecule inhibitors of retroviral assembly and maturation. Filing August 8, 2008. Issued October 1, 2013.
  12. US Patent No. 8,933,019. Debnath, A. K., Zhang, H. and Curreli, F. Antiviral cell-penetrating peptides. Filed May 6, 2008. Issued January 13, 2015.
  13. US Patent No. 8,937,154. Debnath, A. K., Zhang, H. and Zhao, Q. Stabilized therapeutic small helical antiviral peptides. Filed June 15, 2015. Issued Hanuary 20, 2015.
  14. US Patent No. 8,940,864. Debnath, A. K., Zhang, H. and Zhao, Q. Stabilized therapeutic small helical antiviral peptides. Filed October 5, 2006. Issued January 27, 205.

LIST OF PUBLICATIONS