Projects

IOCB Tech’s main responsibilities include identifying commercially attractive projects developed within the IOCB, followed by analyzing their market potential and patentability, protecting their intellectual property, supporting the given projects’ development in the form of project management, finding commercial partners, and negotiating the contractual terms for signing license agreements.

We have participated in the negotiating and concluding of more than a dozen key license agreements with important pharmaceutical partners including Gilead Sciences, Merck, Novo Nordisk, and SHINE Technologies.

Our main areas of interest are the development of new drugs, diagnostics, and research tools. Our current portfolio includes projects focusing on a variety of therapeutic areas: e.g., the central nervous system, inflammation, cancer, and microbial resistance, as well as separation methods and research tools.

α-Synuclein aggregation inhibitor for Parkinson's disease treatment Active

Scientists:
Volodymyr Shvadchak, Maksym Galkin

Challenge

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that impacts over 1% of individuals aged 60, and more than 4% of those aged 80 and above. Despite the increasing demand, a cure for PD remains elusive, with only symptomatic treatments currently available. The progression of PD is heavily driven by the aggregation of small protein α-synuclein (αSyn) into amyloid fibrils that makes stopping this process a prospective strategy for the disease treatment.

Technology

Amyloid fibrils grow by sequential binding of αSyn to their ends. Developed peptide-based inhibitors selectively bind to the fibril ends and block attachment of αSyn preventing amyloid formation.

Therefore, the inhibitors were named FEPI – Fibril End Peptide Inhibitors. They were tailored to recognize the structural motif of fibril ends. This design allows for selectivity for pathological species not affecting protein in its native form. As a result, the lead peptide FEPI4 prevents aggregate formation in cells with much higher efficacy than any other compounds reported to date.

αSyn aggregation in cells after 24h treatment with the inhibitor as compared to control cells

FEPI were modified for effective intranasal delivery to the brain - a less common but effective route, which transfers biomolecules through the olfactory nerve to reach the brain areas affected in PD – the olfactory bulb and basal ganglia. The effective delivery of the peptides to the brain through the intranasal route was shown using a mice model.

The ultimate goal is to develop an intranasal spray suitable for self-administration that can stop PD progression.

Commercial opportunity

With the aging of the world's population, the global market for antiparkinsonian drugs is projected to triple in the next decade. In 2029 PD diagnosed population is predicted to be 3M and total sales $11.5B.

Development status

Preclinical, in vivo testing

Keywords

Parkinson's disease α-Synuclein aggregation amyloid fibrils FEPI

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