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- Posted Wednesday March 20, 2013
BIO5-TGen collaboration focused on drug development for Alzheimer's disease
New class of small molecules show promise against memory loss
TUCSON, Ariz. - March 20, 2013- BIO5 Oro
Valley today announced a collaboration with the Translational
Genomics Research Institute (TGen) to develop new therapies for the
treatment of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative
diseases.
BIO5 Oro Valley co-Director and University of Arizona College of
Pharmacy medicinal chemist Dr. Christopher Hulme's collaborative
effort with TGen Assistant Professor Dr. Travis Dunckley will focus
on the development of novel, small molecule inhibitors of
dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A
(DYRK1A). Upregulation of this kinase is implicated in promoting
memory deficits associated with Down syndrome and neurodegenerative
pathologies, particularly Alzheimer's disease.
"DYRK1A is a well-validated, recently discovered target, ready for
translational efforts to deliver an oral medication to patients
suffering from this insidious disease," said Dr. Hulme. "Indeed,
coupled with the advanced small molecules in-hand that target
DYRK1A, further efforts are underway that will broaden our
therapeutic presence in the Alzheimer's arena to other
Arizona-based biological discoveries."
Statistics from the National Institutes of Health indicate that
5.1 million older Americans - or 1-in-8 - suffer from Alzheimer's,
which makes it the sixth leading cause of death in the United
States and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United
States that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. Estimated to
effect 45 million people worldwide by 2020, dementia is currently a
leading, major unmet medical need and a costly burden on public
health. Seventy percent of these cases have been attributed to
Alzheimer's, a neurodegenerative pathology characterized by a
progressive decline in cognitive functions.
"This collaborative partnership is a critical step in advancing
discoveries of the role DYRK1A plays to developing therapeutics
that could alter the course of Alzheimer's disease," said Dr.
Dunckley.
Drs. Hulme and Dunckley will focus on providing a significant
alternative to common approaches that focus on small molecules that
inhibit the production of neurotoxic fragments of amyloid proteins
and antibody immunization approaches targeting the build up of
these fragments.
The joint effort will explore the decrease of DYRK1A activity in
the brain with proprietary small-molecule inhibitors. This approach
could lead to new therapeutic strategies to alleviate cognitive
deficits associated with Alzheimer's and Down syndrome.
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About BIO5 Oro Valley
The University of Arizona's BIO5 Oro Valley is the State's
translational drug discovery and development center which is
focused on bringing new therapies to patients. The center
houses an extensive library of over 100,000 compounds to partner
with disease biologists to find new potential drugs and manage the
drug discovery and development process through to IND filing. For
more information, visit www.bio5orovalley.org.
BIO5 Oro Valley Press Contact
Nina Ossanna
Co-Director, BIO5 Oro Valley
[email protected]
About TGen
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix,
Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting
groundbreaking research with life changing results. Research at
TGen is focused on helping patients with diseases such as cancer,
neurological disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of
translational research where investigators are able to unravel the
genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with
collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen
believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency
and effectiveness of the translational process. For more
information, visit www.tgen.org.
TGen Press Contact
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]
