SUMMARY
UCLA researchers in the Departments of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, and Human Genetics have discovered a novel small molecule therapy that facilitates treatment of Duchene Muscular Dystrophy.
BACKGROUND
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the dystrophin gene. In DMD patients, muscles quickly degenerate, leading to muscle weakness and early death. The mutation typically found in DMD is a multiexon deletion which causes dystrophin protein levels to be unusually low.There is currently no cure, and steroids are currently the only therapeutic to help manage the symptoms.Gene and stem cell therapies are being tested in the lab but have yet to make it to the clinic. Antisense oligo therapy is currently being tested as a treatment option for DMD patients.These antisense oligos promote exon-skipping of the mutated region on a patient’s dystrophin transcript, and thus, hoping to restore nominal dystrophin protein levels.This method has proven successful in mouse models of DMD and is currently being evaluated in clinical trials, however currently they appear to only restore minimal amounts of functional protein.Methods to improve exon-skipping in combination with antisense therapy would be highly beneficial to patients.
INNOVATION
UCLA researchers led by Profs. Stanley Nelson and Carrie Miceli have discovered a novel small molecule that supports antisense oligo therapy in inducing exon skipping, restoring dystrophin levels in cell culture and mouse models of DMD. Furthermore, this molecule is FDA approved and has been shown to have minimal side effects in DMD patients.Additionally, it was demonstrated that this adjunctive agent for antisense oligo therapy works through calcium signaling, a potentially safe mechanism of action.
APPLICATIONS
- An agent to facilitate antisense oligo therapy for DMD
ADVANTAGES
- Potentiates existing antisense oligo therapies
- Discovered from a library of FDA approved molecules, meaning its safe and approved for human use
STATE OF DEVELOPMENT
This novel agent has been validated in cell culture and mouse models for DMD.