C12661: Novel Anti-Malarial Compounds and Compositions
Novelty:
This technology provides new classes of anti-malarial compounds and a method to identify such compounds.
Value Proposition:
Nearly half the worlds population is at risk of acquiring malaria, which is caused by the Plasmodium family of protozoan parasites. Common drugs used to treat malaria very effectively inhibit or kill Plasmodium by interfering with metabolic pathways or other critical intracellular processes, but are not highly specific and may cause potentially severe side effects. In addition, resistance to these drugs is becoming more common among Plasmodium species. The present technology focuses on preventing cell invasion by interfering with the protein machinery required for cell invasion. Advantages of this technology include:
• Several new classes of compounds and method for identifying additional anti-malarial compounds
• Likely highly effective, since protein machinery targeted is not only essential to infection but also to all stages of the parasite life cycle
• Method can identify highly specific interactions between compounds and target proteins, which may help reduce side effects
• Targeted protein is also critical to other cell functions, and is therefore less likely to undergo mutations conferring drug resistance
Technical Details:
Johns Hopkins researchers have discovered compounds and a method to identify such compounds that can inhibit Plasmodium cell invasion. Plasmodia parasites rely on a complex of proteins called the glideosome to invade target cells. One particular protein, Aldolase, functions by connecting actin filaments to Thrombospondin-Related Anonymous Protein (TRAP), which transduces the force required for the parasite to glide across and invade cells. The researchers developed a method to assess binding of different compounds to Aldolase or the Aldolase-TRAP complex, which may disrupt the cell invasion machinery, and identified candidate compounds for anti-malarial therapeutics based on this principle.
Looking for Partners:
To develop and commercialize the technology as an anti-malarial therapeutic.
Stage of Development:
Discovery
Data Availability:
Under CDA/NDA
US 20140275088; PMC4545932
