Unmet Need: Gastrointestinal (GI) fibrosis, the accumulation of scar tissue in the intestinal wall as a complication in common GI autoimmune diseases such as ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), leads to intestinal strictures, abdominal pain, and reduced intestinal motility. Current pharmacological and surgical treatment methods have significant limitations and do not prevent fibrosis recurrence. Therefore, there is a clear need to develop drugs to treat GI fibrosis, which would improve health outcomes for patients with UC and CD.
Advantages disclosed herein:
· Sulconazole nanocrystals as a novel antifibrotic GI treatment
· Effective local, sustained-release, antifibrotic activity
· In vivo validated as well-tolerated and safe
· Antifibrotic properties and prevention of recurrence of fibrosis at previous stricture sites
Technology Overview: Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a nanocrystal formulation of Sulconazole for targeted sustained-release therapy of fibrosis in the GI tract. The sulconazole nanocrystals provided superior or equivalent fibrosis prevention with less frequent dosing in mouse models of skin and intestinal tissue fibrosis. In a patient-like swine model of bowel stricture, a single injection of sulconazole nanocrystals prevented stricture formation.
Stage of Development: Preclinical in vivo data
Publication: Gastroenterology. 2023 May;164(6):937-952.e13. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2023.01.006. Epub 2023 Jan 16.
