Anti-netrin 1 human Ab for the treatment of atherosclerosis
Modality
Biotherapeutics
Therapeutic area
Cardiovascular
Advantages
An anti-netrin-1 therapeutic offers the potential to reverse atherosclerosis with an additive benefit to cholesterol reduction interventions
Background Info
Netrin-1 was identified as an important paracrine modulator of macrophage migration and survival in the contest of established atherosclerotic plaques. The expression of Netrin-1 is enriched in atherosclerotic lesions, both in mice and humans.
Indication
Artherosclerosis; solid tumours (endometrial/utherus carcinomas); osteolysis
Intellectual property
Composition of Matter (unfiled)
Contact Kevin Buchan about this licensing opportunity
Anti Plexin B1 antibody for the treatment of Osteoporosis
Modality
Biotherapeutics
Therapeutic area
Musculo-skeletal
Advantages
Opportunity for combination therapy, for new entrants, with existing standard of care.
Background Info
Tissue-resident microglia are required to maintain CNS tolerance, but they can also release inflammatory cytokines and reactivate primed T cells during neuroinflammation. Sema4D (on T cells) activates microglia through PlexinB1. This project has discovered and developed an anti Plexin B1 antibody.
Indication
Disease modifying therapy in Osteoporosis
Intellectual property
Composition of Matter (filed August 2021)
Contact Kevin Buchan about this licensing opportunity
Anti Plexin B1 antibody for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis
Modality
Biotherapeutics
Therapeutic area
Neuroscience
Advantages
A new drug that could prevent disease progression in MS and the accumulation of disability. Opportunity for combination therapy, for new entrants, with existing standard of care.
Background Info
Tissue-resident microglia are required to maintain CNS tolerance, but they can also release inflammatory cytokines and reactivate primed T cells during neuroinflammation.Sema4D (on T cells) activates microglia through PlexinB1. Plexin-B1–deficient mice exhibit reduced susceptibility in an experimental model of MS. This project has discovered and developed an anti Plexin B1 antibody.
Indication
Disease modifying therapy in Multiple Sclerosis
Intellectual property
Composition of Matter (filed August 2021)
Contact Kevin Buchan about this licensing opportunity
Beta amyloid-targeted therapeutic antibody
Modality
Biotherapeutics
Therapeutic area
Neuroscience
Advantages
A novel approach to specifically target Aβ N-terminal oligomers
Background Info
TAPAS specifically recognises the truncated toxic forms pyroglutamate (AβpE3) and Aβ4-42, but not Aβ1-42 showed efficacy in vivo in different models of Alzheimer’s disease.
Indication
Alzheimer's Disease
Intellectual property
Pending patent applications: WO20070225; Granted patents: EP2847217 B1; EP3269736 B1; US9617332 BB; HK11207869 B
Contact Zhi Zhang about this licensing opportunity
GalR2 agonists for the Treatment of Pain
Modality
Biotherapeutics
Therapeutic area
Neuroscience
Advantages
First-in-class with a novel peripheral mechanism. Potential to address current unmet need in chronic pain with an improved side-effect profile to current therapies.
Background Info
There exists a novel MOA for peripheral GalR2 activation to reduce peripheral and neuropathic pain. Moreover, galanin and its receptor GalR2 are well validated targets:
• Galanin KO induces pain behaviours following nerve injury in in-vivo models of nociception
• Galanin overexpression markedly reduces sensitivity to pain in in-vivo models of nociception
• In-vivo administration of galanin ligands is anti-nociceptive
• Galanin KO induces pain behaviours following nerve injury in in-vivo models of nociception
• Galanin overexpression markedly reduces sensitivity to pain in in-vivo models of nociception
• In-vivo administration of galanin ligands is anti-nociceptive
Indication
Neuropathic and peripheral pain
Intellectual property
Composition of Matter (filed)
Contact Bouran Sohrabi about this licensing opportunity
TASK2
Modality
Small molecules
Therapeutic area
Neuroscience
Advantages
Despite important roles in pathophysiology, K2Ps have proven a difficult target class to modulate with small molecules. LifeArc has developed and successfully deployed a novel system to identify small molecule K2P activators, and have strategic relationships in place to deliver high quality drug discovery in the K2P space.
Background Info
Two pore domain potassium channels (K2Ps) have been implicated in a number of human diseases including Pain and Migraine. A number of K2Ps show genetic linkage (e.g. Migraine for TASK2 and TRESK). LifeArc has active chemistry programs for TASK-2 with potent and efficacious activators identified.
Indication
Pain and Migraine
Intellectual property