Insulin mimetics for insulin resistance disorders

This technology is an insulin-mimetic peptide that can be used to improve insulin signaling in individuals with desensitized or mutated insulin receptors.

Unmet Need: Insulin-like replacement for rescuing insulin-signaling

While insulin and insulin-sensitizing agents can help regulate blood glucose levels in some cases of insulin resistance, these therapies are ineffective in individuals with insulin receptor mutations that impair insulin binding or desensitized insulin receptors. Additionally, existing therapies do not fully restore all aspects of normal insulin signaling, including lipid metabolism. New therapies are needed for individuals with the most severe forms of insulin resistance, who often have a life expectancy of only a few years.

The Technology: Insulin mimetics for insulin-resistant conditions unresponsive to insulin therapy

This technology describes insulin mimetic peptides that can activate the insulin receptor by binding to a separate protein binding site on the receptor, thereby stabilizing its active form. The location of the binding site enables the mimetic peptides to activate known insulin receptor mutants that cannot bind normal insulin. Variants of these peptides have been shown to initiate several downstream pathways following insulin receptor activation in multiple tissue types, and they also display the ability to lower blood glucose levels.

This technology has been validated in vitro using mouse tissue cultures.

Applications:

  • Treatment for insulin resistance caused by insulin receptor mutations
  • Treatment for patients unresponsive to insulin therapy
  • Supplement to decrease required doses of therapeutic insulin
  • Research tool for development of higher affinity insulin mimetic peptides

Advantages:

  • Sensitizes insulin receptor mutants
  • Activates several downstream insulin-signaling pathways
  • High receptor specificity

Lead Inventor:

Eunhee Choi, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Pending (WO/2024/064922)

Related Publications:

Tech Ventures Reference: