Unmet Need / Invention Novelty: Mitochondrial dysfunction plays critical roles in metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. There is an unmet need to develop new treatments for metabolic diseases that target mitochondrial dysfunction.
Technical Details: Researchers at Johns Hopkins have developed novel peptides that block phosphorylation of a kinase target found to be compromised, through phosphorylation, in metabolic diseases. In proof-of-concept studies, the peptides increased kinase activity, eliminated compromised mitochondria, maintained healthy mitochondria, and suppressed glucose production in hepatocytes prepared from obese mice and elderly mice. Therefore, the peptides may serve as promising novel therapeutics for metabolic diseases. Furthermore, as evidenced by preliminary studies the peptides also inhibit the growth of multiple tumor cells.
Value Proposition:
Looking for Partners to: Develop & commercialize as novel peptides for treating and preventing metabolic diseases.
Stage of Development: Pre-clinical
Data Availability: in vitro and in vivo
