2025, February 19
Share this articleNU researchers, in collaboration with an international research team, are developing new drugs, which could improve melanoma treatment.
One of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer—melanoma—may soon be treated with a new class of drugs. Researchers from Nazarbayev University (Kazakhstan), Edinburgh Napier University (UK), Chung-Ang University (South Korea), and Dongguk University (South Korea) are working together to develop these compounds, which could offer a breakthrough in cancer treatment.
Melanoma is notoriously difficult to treat due to its rapid ability to develop drug resistance. However, a recent study published in Archives of Pharmacal Research—a journal ranked in the top 5% of the SCOPUS database—offers fresh hope. The new Raf kinase inhibitors are able to overcome key limitations of existing drugs.
“We are designing new drug compounds that target Raf kinase, a key protein involved in melanoma progression. Inhibitors are targeted drugs that block cancer growth at the molecular level,” said Dr. Ahmed Elkamhawy, an assistant professor at Nazarbayev University’s School of Sciences and Humanities and a specialist in medicinal chemistry. “While melanoma is currently treated with chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy, many patients develop resistance to existing treatments. Our newly discovered Raf kinase inhibitors offer a promising new approach to stopping melanoma progression, potentially leading to a more effective and personalized treatment option.”
A published author of over 65 scientific papers in drug development and holder of multiple patents, Dr. Elkamhawy leads a drug discovery research team at Nazarbayev University, which includes one PhD student and six undergraduate researchers.
The research team has synthesized a series of new compounds and tested their activity in laboratory conditions.
“Our groundbreaking discovery has just been accepted for publication this month (February 2025) in the prestigious Archives of Pharmacal Research (Top 5% SCOPUS & JCR Journal), marking a major milestone in our fight against melanoma. With this exciting achievement, we are now gearing up for the next phase of preclinical studies and further optimization, bringing us one step closer to clinical trials. This breakthrough holds immense potential for developing a new and more effective treatment, and we are fully committed to pushing it forward as quickly as possible,” added scientist.
In Kazakhstan, melanoma cases have been rising at an alarming rate—mirroring global trends. By the end of 2022, more than 19,700 cases of skin cancer and 2,600 cases of melanoma had been recorded in the country. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer estimated 330,000 new global melanoma cases and nearly 60,000 deaths. The urgency for more precise and long-lasting therapies has never been greater, pushing researchers to find solutions that improve patient outcomes and offer renewed hope.
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