This technology, called Genetically Encoded Enhancer of Ca2+ Currents (GEECC), is a genetically encoded enhancer of calcium currents to directly modulate calcium currents in L-type Ca2+ channels.
Current methods to treat cardiovascular disease and neurological disorders resulting from calcium ion channel dysfunction rely largely on calcium or potassium ion channel blockers. However, many antiarrhythmic medications remain unreliable treatments, as they demonstrate off-target effects, and, paradoxically, may increase the risk of arrhythmias. Moreover, this course of treatment fails to directly resolve calcium ion channel dysfunction at its source. Patients with more severe forms of arrythmia may resort to surgical implantation of defibrillator devices, which poses its own set of risks. Currently, there remains a lack of reliable treatment options for patients with dysfunctional calcium ion channels.
This technology is a genetically encoded chimeric protein to rescue dysfunctional action potentials in L-type calcium channels in specific tissues. This chimeric protein consists of a functional domain of a subunit found in calcium ion channels known to directly influence calcium currents in heart cells and a nanobody. When this protein is administered to either cardiac or neural cells, calcium channel activity is rescued.
This technology has been validated with iPSC-derived neurons and rat neurons.
Patent Pending(US20260217774)
IR CU23388
Licensing Contact: Kristin Neuman
