Highly Potent and Selective Deubiquitinating Enzyme Inhibitor

Available for licensing are inhibitors that target the USP1/ UAF1 deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) complex. The FDA approval and commercial success of Velcade®, a small molecule proteasome inhibitor, has established the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) as a valid target for anticancer treatment. However, proteasome inhibitors in general suffer from a narrow therapeutic index and acquired resistance. A promising alternative to proteasome inhibition has been to target the enzymes upstream of proteasome-mediated protein degradation, i.e.

Potency Assay for Membrane Transporter Protein-based Drugs Acting on Antioxidant, Redox, and Apoptosis Response Pathways

This technology includes a method of analyzing the potency of membrane transporter protein-based drugs acting on intracellular antioxidant and redox response pathways (and associated apoptosis pathways), wherein the drug delivery and activity is lipid associated. The present invention is a cell-based bioassay for measuring the bioactivity of drug substance and formulated drug product by determining the drug's dose-dependent inhibitory effects on 4 hydroxynonenal (4-HNE)-induced antioxidant response element (ARE) activity.

Optimized Nucleotide Sequence for RLIP-76 - A Membrane-associated Lipid Peroxidation Transporter for Radiation Poisoning

This technology includes a codon optimized expression vector for the high expression and production of RLIP-76 which can be used to provide protection from radiation. RLIP-76 is a multifunctional membrane protein that transports glutathione conjugates of electrophilic compounds outside the cell. The sequence was generated with codon bias alterations, reduction of secondary structure, lowering of GC content, and removal of cryptic elements that could affect expression in E.coli.

Formulation of a Modified Stable FGF-1 (TTHX1114) to Accelerate Corneal Endothelium Regeneration

This technology includes the use of a novel formulation for an engineered version of Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 (FGF1), TTHX1114, that can be used to accelerate regeneration of the corneal endothelium after surgical lesions. FGFs are well-established regulators of migration and proliferation of corneal endothelial cells (CECs).

Inhibition of Thioredoxin Reductase 1 (Trxr1) by Pyridine Compounds for Cancer Treatment

This technology includes the use of pyridines for anticancer treatment. A common feature of cancer cells is a high level of reactive oxygen species with a concomitant increase of two antioxidative systems to combat the toxicity: the glutathione and thioredoxin systems. Inhibiting either, or both, of these systems is a promising avenue to target cancer cells. Thioredoxin Reductase 1 (Trxr1) is an important selenoprotein in the thioredoxin antioxidative system which has been implicated as a potential anti-cancer target.

Enhanced Cancer Chemotherapy Using the Bioactive Peptide Recifin And Its Analogues

Topoisomerase enzymes play an important role in cancer progression by controlling changes in DNA structure through catalyzing the breaking and rejoining of the phosphodiester backbone of DNA strands during the normal cell cycle. Therefore, topoisomerases are important targets for cancer chemotherapy. Many topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) inhibitors such as camptothecin, rinotecan, and topotecan are widely used anti-cancer agents that work by stabilizing the TOP1-DNA cleavage complex.

Size-dependent brain distribution of macromolecular drug delivery platform

The blood brain barrier (BBB) is a specialized endothelium that prevents the uptake of substances from the systemic circulation into the central nervous system. This barrier, while protecting the sensitive physiological environment of the brain, is also a major impediment in administering therapeutics that need to pass through the BBB. A drug delivery platform that could deliver therapeutic agents directly to the brain is needed, and could have wide ranging significance in a variety of psychiatric, oncology, infectious, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Reporter Assay for Detection and Quantitation of Replication-Competent Gammaretrovirus

Gammaretroviral vectors were the first viral gene-therapy vectors to enter clinical trials and remain in use. One potential hazard associated with the use of such vectors is the presence of replication-competent retroviruses (RCR) in the vector preparations – either as a result of: 1) recombination events between the plasmids used for vector production, 2) interactions between the plasmids and endogenous retroviral sequences in the packaging cell lines, or 3) as a result of contamination in the laboratory.

Small Molecule Inhibitors of Histone Demethylases for Treating Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and Other Cancers

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common type of soft tissue sarcoma in children and makes up 3% of all childhood cancers. Aveloar Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most aggressive subtype and is primarily established through a chromosomal translocation resulting in the fusion protein PAX3-FOXO1. Despite aggressive therapy, the 5-year survival rate for patients with high risk or recurrent Fusion Positive RMS (FP-RMS) is low (~30% and ~17%, respectively). Therefore, new therapies targeting the PAX3-FOXO1 oncogenic driver are urgently needed.  

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