Prosaposin: Therapeutic Compound for Prevention and Treatment of Pain
Tech ID: 19473 / UC Case 1995-177-0
Background
The compound prosaposin and its methods of use, already tested successfully in Phase I clinical trials, is available for licensing. Prosaposin is the precursor of the saposins and has both neurotrophic and myelinotrophic activity in vitro and in vivo. It is an injury-repair protein that acts on both neurons and glia.Prosaposin also has myotrophic properties and can attenuate loss of muscle mass after nerve injury.
Prosaposin and peptide derivatives of it will promote neurite outgrowth in vitro. A peptide consensus sequence was determined by comparing the active neurite outgrowth-inducing saposin C peptide sequence with that of various hematopoietic and neuropoietic cytokines. These cytokine-derived peptides will promote the same processes as their corresponding cytokines. In addition, prosaposin and saposin C promote increased nerve cell myelination ex vivo. Demyelination is a defect common to a number of central nervous system disorders, the most common being multiple sclerosis.
Technology Description
This compound could address multiple disease indications. Peripheral nerve injuries and peripheral neuropathies, such as those resulting from diabetes or chemotherapy, comprise the most prevalent peripheral nervous system disorders. Current treatments for peripheral nerve disorders only treat the symptoms, not the cause of the disease.
Post-polio syndrome is characterized by muscle fatigue and decreased endurance with accompanying muscle weakness and atrophy. The disease is believed to be caused in part by damage to the same type of spinal cord motor neurons that are damaged in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
State Of Development
The compound has been tested in Phase I and Phase II clinical trials.Related Materials
- Mizisin AP, Steinhardt RC, O'Brien JS, Calcutt NA. TX14(A), a prosaposin-derived peptide, reverses established nerve disorders in streptozotocin-diabetic rats and prevents them in galactose-fed rats. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2001 Oct;60(10):953-60.
- Campana WM, Mohiuddin L, Misasi R, O'Brien JS, Calcutt NA. Prosaposin-derived peptides enhanced sprouting of sensory neurons in vitro and induced sprouting at motor endplates in vivo. J Peripher Nerv Syst. 2000 Sep;5(3):126-30.
- Rende M, Brizi E, Donato R, Provenzano C, Bruno R, Mizisin AP, Garrett RS, Calcutt NA, Campana WM, O'Brien JS. Prosaposin is immunolocalized to muscle and prosaptides promote myoblast fusion and attenuate loss of muscle mass after nerve injury. Muscle Nerve. 2001 Jun;24(6):799-808.
- Hiraiwa M, Campana WM, Wang CY, Otero DA, O'Brien JS. A retro-inverso Prosaptide D5 promotes a myelination process in developing rats. Brain Res Dev Brain Res. 2001 May 31;128(1):73-6.
Intellectual Property Information
Issued U.S. patents include composition and methods claims.- Prosaposin and cytokine-derived peptides (5,700,909)
- Prosaposin-derived peptides (6,268,347)
- Methods of alleviating neuropathic pain using prosaposin-derived peptides (6,271,196)
- Compositions for alleviating neuropathic pain with prosaposin receptor agonists (6,849,602)
Other issued patents include: Canada 2,248,139; South Korea 0507715; New Zealand 331757; Poland 187917; Russian Federation 2223969; Singapore 56318; Australia 781182; Europe 0720482
Multiple patent applications are in prosecution in U.S. and foreign countries.
Patent Status
| Country | Type | Number | Dated | Case |
| United States Of America | Issued Patent | 5,571,787 | 11/05/1996 | 1995-177 |
Other Information
Categorized As
Related cases
1995-177-0
Contact
University of California, San Diego Technology Transfer Office / invent@ucsd.edu / tel: View Phone Number. Please reference Tech ID #19473.