Lead Inventors:
Seth Lederman M.D., Dale M. Frank M.D., Aileen M. Cleary M.D.
Treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases using gene therapy
Immunological reactions underlie a vast amount of medical conditions, including autoimmune disorders and transplant rejection. Most currently available immunosuppressive drugs are non-specific and have strong side effects, especially during prolonged usage. Antibody based therapies against immune cells are more directed, but tend to induce dangerously strong reactions during treatment. As a result, there is a pressing clinical need for new immunosuppressive agents.
Treating unwanted levels of CD40-mediated intracellular signaling using gene therapy
This technology comprises inhibitors of antibody production, including IgG, IgA and IgE. These peptide inhibitors are derived from naturally occurring mutations in the CRAF1 (TRAF-3) gene and they specifically inhibit CD40 mediated intracellular signaling. As the CD40-mediated signaling pathway is necessary for B-cell proliferation and antibody production, inhibitors of this pathway act as highly specific and effective immunosuppressants.
Applications:
-- Highly specific inhibitors of antibody-mediated immune reactions.
-- Can potentially be used to treat autoimmune diseases.
-- Can be used as an immunosuppressive agent during organ transplants.
Advantages:
-- Naturally derived and therefore not immunogenic.
-- Highly specific and therefore has few side effects.
-- Only targets B-cell proliferation, opening the possibility for highly directed therapy.
Patent Status: Patents Issued (US 6,822,070, 6,410,710, 6,849,415) ~ see links below.
Licensing Status: Available for Licensing and Sponsored Research Support
Publications:
Cheng G et al. Involvement of CRAF1, a relative of TRAF, in CD40 signaling. (1995). Science. 267(5203):1494-1498.
