Mechanistic insights reveal drug discovery target for lithium responders and non-responders

Value Proposition

• New mouse model for mood switching behavior with viability for compound screening
• Demonstrated that BK channels in excitatory neurons are involved in cellular pathology of patients by affecting Ca2+ kinetics
• Application to both lithium responders and non-responders

Unmet Need

Bipolar disorder (BPD) has a lifetime prevalence of 4-5% in the United States. A substantial number of BPD patients tend to be treatment non-responsive. About half of BPD patients are non-responders to the medicine of primary choice, lithium. Furthermore, at least 6 to 7% of BP patients commit suicide; and suicide rates in BPD patients are 20 to 30 times as high as the rates in the general population. Therefore, there is a strong need for a mechanism and drug discovery target for BPDs that is not based on lithium.

Technology Description

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have made discoveries about the calcium-based mechanism underlying bipolar disorder and a new mouse model of the disorder based on those discoveries. This mouse model is, for the first time, able to model the switch behavior seen in bipolar disorder. In addition, this platform is poised to be leveraged for screening drug candidates. Unoprostone (Uno) and NS1619 have already been shown as effective regardless of if the individuals are lithium responders.

Stage of Development

• Invitro studies have been completed in mouse model.
• Looking for partners to conduct compound screenings.

Data Availability

• Data available upon request.