Pharmacotherapy for Preventing Neurodegeneration

NU 2016-108

INVENTORS
D. James Surmeier* 
Steven M. Graves

SHORT DESCRIPTION 
Small molecule therapeutics to prevent neurological degeneration associated with other pharmaceutical treatments 

ABSTRACT
Methamphetamine and amphetamine are pharmaceutical drugs sometimes used  to treat attention definicity hyperactive disorder (ADHD), obesity, and narcolepsy. New findings, however, have revealed that the use of these drugs induces mitochondrial stress and increases a patient’s risk of developing neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. Northwestern researchers have identified a pharmaceutical approach to attenuate mitochontrial stress and thereby mitigate the negative side effects of methamphetamine and amphetamine. Downstream effects of this drug lead to the overall preservation of dopaminergic neuron functioning, which otherwise becomes disordered following methamphetamine and amphetamine treatments. Moreover this new therapeutic approach can reverse the unwanted side effects of chronic L-DOPA treatment in Parkinson’s disease patients. 

APPLICATIONS 

• Preventative pharmaceutical treatment

ADVANTAGES 

• Employs FDA-approved therapeutics
• Can prevent or slow downs neurodegeneration observed in Parkinson’s disease patients
• Mitigates negative side effects for drugs associated with the treatment of conditions such as ADHD, obesity, and narcolepsy 

PUBLICATION
Graves, Steven M., et al. "Methamphetamine‐induced mitochondrial oxidant stress mediated by monoamine oxidase metabolism of dopamine." The FASEB Journal 31 (2017): 987-3.

IP STATUS
Issued US Patent No. 11,554,103