Ubiquinone-based safe anesthetic and sedative agent

This technology is a new composition using ubiquinone as an anesthetic and sedative for clinical use.

Unmet Need: Anesthetic agent with favorable safety profile

The field of anesthesiology continuously seeks novel anesthetic compounds with improved efficiency and safety profiles. Existing anesthetics are associated with several side effects, such as respiratory and myocardial depression, prolonged sedation, nausea, and immunosuppression, and can present risks for patients with cardiovascular disorders or other conditions. In addition, several existing anesthetics can trigger malignant hyperthermia or result in lethal toxicity when administered continuously for non-procedural sedation in the critically ill. Further, little is understood regarding the means by which anesthetics induce unconsciousness in a reversible manner. There is a continuing need for alternative anesthetic agents with minimal off-target effects and more clearly defined mechanisms.

The Technology: Adaptable anesthetic and sedative compounds with minimal adverse effects

This technology presents a new anesthetic agent that induces unconsciousness or sedation in a controllable, safe, and reversible manner. These compounds include ubiquinone analogues that inhibit the electron transport chain and cause mitochondrial proton leak in a similar manner as propofol: currently the most popular intravenous anesthetic. Level of consciousness can be easily targeted, allowing for careful titration of dosage in order to achieve a range of responses from light sedation to full general anesthesia. Importantly, the adverse effects and life-threatening side effects common with existing anesthetics do not occur with this agent. Thus, this anesthetic is particularly advantageous for use in critically ill patients or those with pre-existing conditions for which other anesthetics are not safe. This technology offers a favorable alternative anesthetic for widespread clinical use.

This technology has been validated in mice.

Applications:

• Anesthetic for widespread clinical use
• Research tool for mechanisms of ubiquinone-based anesthetics and sedatives
• Research tool for high-throughput screening to discover other new anesthetic agents

Advantages:

• Does not trigger malignant hyperthermia
• No lethal toxicity with long-term infusion as occurs with propofol (i.e., propofol infusion syndrome)
• No adverse effects involving respiratory depression, nausea, prolonged sedation, or immunosuppression associated with other sedative agents
• Favorable safety profile
• Flexible sedation level, allowing for light to deep sedation
• Usable as a sole agent for total intravenous anesthesia
• Usable for procedural sedation or non-procedural sedation of the critically ill
• Includes quinone analogues that offset negative biological impacts
• Reversible

Lead Inventor:

Richard J. Levy, M.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Pending (WO/2022/192633)

Related Publications:

Tech Ventures Reference:

• IR CU21133

• Licensing Contact: Cynthia Lang