Preventing and Treating Obesity through Opsin 3 Regulation of Hypothalamic Melanocortin Receptors
Overview
Obesity is a worldwide health problem. The complex disease disrupts many body systems and reduces life expectancy. Our technology offers a safe, effective way to prevent and treat obesity and obesity-related disorders through opsin 3 regulation of hypothalamic melanocortin receptors.
Market Opportunity
Achieving long-term weight loss through dietary restriction is generally ineffective. The two drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of obesity cause serious side effects and result in only modest weight loss. Thus there is a need for effective, safe ways to prevent and treat obesity and obesity-related disorders.
Innovation and Meaningful Advantages
The melanocortin receptor MC3R influences energy homeostasis and may suppress appetite, while the melanocortin receptor MC4R negatively regulates food intake and energy expenditure. Both are expressed in the same region of the hypothalamus as opsin 3 (OPN3). Our technology upregulates hypothalamic melanocortin receptor signaling by downregulating OPN3 protein expression, OPN3 gene expression, and/or OPN3 activation in the hypothalamus.
Commercial Development: Current State and Next Steps
Our first technology downregulates OPN3 protein expression, OPN3 gene expression, and/or OPN3 activation in the hypothalamus. A second alternate, technology downregulates them in the fat tissue, pituitary gland, or other parts of the body that indirectly signal the hypothalamus, resulting in a similar upregulation of hypothalamic melanocortin receptor signaling. Our current technology can be used to treat glucose intolerance, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
Collaboration Opportunity
Our goal is to collaborate with biopharma partners/funders who can bring into play the developmental, translational, and financial resources needed to advance this technology through regulatory approval and into the commercial marketplace.
Principal Investigator
Elena Oancea, PhD
Associate Professor of Medical Science
Brown University
Brown Tech ID #3014
elena_oancea@brown.edu
IP Information
2021-04-01 PCT/US2020/052676; published.
Publication
Olinski LE, et al., Endogenous Opsin 3 (OPN3) Protein Expression in the Adult Brain Using a Novel OPN3-mCherry Knock-In Mouse Model. eNeuro. 2020 Sept-Oct; 7(5): 1-19.