Columbia Technology Ventures

Targeting glial cells for treating myelofibrosis

This technology provides methods for treating myelofibrosis using targets that deplete or inhibit the expansion of Sox10+ and ErbB3+ glial cells.

Unmet Need: Effective treatments for myelofibrosis

Myelofibrosis is a rare blood cancer characterized by the formation of scar tissue in bone marrow, often attributed to mutations in hematopoietic stem cells that result in abnormal cell growth. To date, the only approved myelofibrosis treatment is JAK inhibitors, but these drugs have not been effective in mitigating disease progression. Hematopoietic stem cell transplants are an alternative treatment option, but these procedures come with a high cost and elevated risk. Therefore, it is necessary to develop more effective and accessible treatments for patients diagnosed with myelofibrosis.

The Technology: Inhibiting bone marrow glial cell proliferation to treat myelofibrosis

This technology identifies a population of Sox10+ and ErbB3+ glial cells in the bone marrow that expand during myelofibrosis pathogenesis and proposes a treatment strategy that inhibits the proliferation of these cells. Depletion or inhibition of Sox10+ and ErbB3+ glial cells through pharmacological agents can reduce the incidence of myelofibrosis development or halt the progression of related pathologies.

This technology has been validated with mouse models.

Applications:

  • Therapeutic target for myelofibrosis
  • Research model to identify cellular components implicated in myelofibrosis pathology
  • Method to identify inhibitors of myelofibrosis
  • Platform to target additional myeloproliferative cancers and conditions
  • Biomarker for myelofibrosis disease progression

Advantages:

  • Targeted cellular therapy for myelofibrosis progression
  • More accessible treatment option for broader patient populations
  • Potential for fewer adverse side effects

Lead Inventor:

Lei Ding, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Pending(US20240342116)

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