Novel inhibitors of protein kinase signaling that are neuroprotective and have potential applicability for the treatment of glaucoma, optic nerve disease, and other forms of neurodegeneration - #2

Glaucoma is a major cause of visual loss and blindness in elderly Americans and throughout the world. One approach to treatment of glaucoma, and other optic nerve diseases as well as other neurodegenerations, is to develop neuroprotective agents that promote the survival of neurons. Through a high content screen of libraries of small molecule compounds, we have identified a protein kinase inhibitor that can promote the survival and/or neurite outgrowth of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), the cells in the retina that die in glaucoma and whose loss leads to vision loss. Based on the activity of this compound on RGCs, it or a chemically related analog may be usable for the treatment of glaucoma and/or other optic nerve diseases. In addition, due to its activity on other neurons, the compound, and/or a related analog, may be usable for the treatment of other diseases, including but not limited to the neurodegenerative diseases, in which there is decreased function and/or loss of neurons.

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