Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in America. One cause of CVD is atherosclerosis, a disease characterized by the buildup of plaques in the arteries. Increased levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, glycerol and fatty acids in the blood contribute to atherosclerosis, and they are also positively correlated with increased levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Patients with high blood levels of gut-derived serotonin are thus at increased risk of developing atherosclerosis. This technology uses small molecule inhibitors to block serotonin production and in doing so prevent arterial plaque formation. They are a potential therapeutic for the treatment of atherosclerosis and the prevention of CVD.
The small molecule inhibitors described by this technology block the protein tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1), which is on the gut-derived serotonin synthetic pathway. Current pharmaceutical treatments for atherosclerosis including statins only slow arterial plaque build-up. By using serotonin production as a alternative therapeutic target, this technology may prevent plaque build-up and thus lower the risk of developing atherosclerosis. Inhibition of gut-derived serotonin has also been correlated with increased bone mass, allowing for a potential dual-action treatment for aging patients at risk for both CVD and osteoporosis.
Some therapeutic agents described by this technology have been shown in a murine model to protect against arterial plaques.
Patent Pending (US 20130338176)
Tech Ventures Reference: IR CU15136