Unmet Need:
Sarcopenia is the progressive loss of muscle mass and function, and is a natural part of the aging process. Age-related muscle loss and weakness can contribute to frailty and increase the likelihood of falls and fractures in older adults. Recent reports found that 5-13% of persons over the age of 65 years and >50% of people 80 years and older have sarcopenia (see Morley et.al). Currently the standard of care for patients with sarcopenia is in managing the condition. Patients are put on exercise regimens, nutritional supplementation plans, and some receive occupational therapy. These interventions improve quality of life but do not stop treat cellular and molecular mechanism leading to muscle loss (see UptoDate). To date, there are no approved drugs to treat age-related sarcopenia. Therefore, with today’s sizable aging population, there is a significant need for therapeutics to treat sarcopenia.
Technology Overview:
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have developed a class of drugs that are able to target an important mechanism involved in the preservation of the neuromuscular junction and muscle function in models of disease as well as normal Aging. They have tested GCPII inhibitors in SOD ALS mice and well as aged wild-type mice and showed that treatment significantly improved muscle mass, strength and physiology in comparison to vehicle-treated controls. Drug treatment also improved overall mobility, decreased age-related pro inflammatory cytokines in the plasma, and strikingly increased lifespan of the aged mice. In summary, researchers have found a new utility of GCPII inhibition via targeted drugs, for the treatment of age-related sarcopenia as well as longevity enhancement.
Stage of Development:
Drug has been developed and tested in-vivo in a preclinical mouse model.
Publication:
Related Technology: JHU Ref. C18202 - Information available under confidentiality.
