This technology is a pharmaceutical approach for preventing and treating preterm labor by inhibiting uterine smooth muscle contractions.
Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal death, and can also result in both short-term and long-term morbidities in infants. Commonly used tocolytic agents (anti-contraction medications) are unable to delay birth long enough to improve neonatal outcomes, which can lead to post-labor complications for both the mother and infant.
This technology targets anoctamin channels, which are calcium-activated chloride channels in the smooth muscle of the uterus, to inhibit contractions that lead to preterm labor. Anoctamin channels are involved in all mechanisms of uterine intracellular calcium signaling, and are a critical mediator of uterine smooth muscle contractility. This treatment may be used alone or in conjunction with existing tocolytic agents to suppress uterine contractions and delay preterm delivery.
The tocolytic effects of blocking these ion channels has been validated in human uterine muscle tissue.
Patent Pending (WO/2017/161222)
IR CU15201
Licensing Contact: Cynthia Lang