Novel Therapeutic for Treating Brain Injury
Overview
Our invention uses a compound that mimics a natural peptide or protein, called a peptidomimetic compound, to treat neuronal injury. Administered prophylactically as soon as possible after injury, the compound is particularly effective in the case of stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and spinal cord injury. It may also aid treatment or prevention of the pathologic metabolic cascades associated with stroke and TBI, as well as retinal damage from glaucoma. The compound also has potential as a treatment for macular degeneration.
Market Opportunity
The greatest risk to a patient who survives stroke or TBI is secondary injury to surrounding neurons that were not injured in the primary insult. This secondary neuronal damage, and neuronal death, occurs after a variety of brain insults and involves metabolic cascades. Because patient decline may not become evident until weeks, or even months, after the initial injury, a safe, effective prophylactic treatment is critical.
Innovation and Meaningful Advantages
Our use of a peptidomimetic compound to treat neuronal injury can help prevent the serious effects of secondary injuries by intervening before they progress. Our treatment mitigates secondary injury by decreasing the production of proinflammatory mediators, as well as the influx of leukocytes to the injured brain. It also acts to preserve mitochondria, which in turn influences neuroprotection. Prophylactic dosing could be conducted on vulnerable populations in a variety of scenarios.
Commercial Development: Current State and Next Steps
Our current dosing regimen, which begins as soon as possible after injury, is continued daily for 10 to 30 days (and possibly longer). Dosing on alternate days or other varied dosing regimens are under consideration. Oral, intrathecal (into the brain or spinal cord), and all other forms of administration are potentially possible.
Collaboration Opportunity
We are interested in licensing our invention to an investor-backed startup.
Principal Investigator
John Marshall, PhD
Professor of Medical Science
Brown University
Brown Tech ID #2118
john_marshall@brown.edu
https://vivo.brown.edu/display/jomarsha
IP Information
2018-08-07 US10040822B2; published.
Publication
Marshall J, Szmydynger-Chodobska J, Rioult-Pedotti MS, Lau K, Ch Tiwrin AT, Reddy Kotla SK, Kumar Tiwari R, Parang K, Threlkeld S, Chodobski A. TrkB-enhancer facilitates recovery after traumatic brain injury. Sci Rep 7, 10995 (2017). doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-11316-8.