The same cellular mechanism (NMT) hijacked by cancer cells is also exploited by viruses like HIV and coronaviruses for replication. By inhibiting NMT, Zelenorstat could potentially halt viral spread, making it a candidate for future pandemic defense.
Cancer should be viewed not just as rogue cells, but as a complex system with its own supply chains and communication infrastructure. This perspective shift justifies novel therapies like Zelenorstat, which aim to dismantle this entire operating system by cutting its power source.
Zelenorstat inhibits NMT, an enzyme that attaches a "GPS tag" to proteins, guiding them within the cell. By blocking this process, it renders key cancer-driving proteins useless, effectively confusing the cancer's operating system rather than using brute-force poison like chemotherapy.