Novel EphA4 Agonists for the Treatment of ALS

Tech ID: 33114 / UC Case 2020-246-0

Background

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is caused by the degeneration and death of motor neurons (MN). In patients with rapid ALS progression, the receptor tyrosine kinase, EphA4, is overexpressed. Studies have shown the unbound EphA4 causes pro-apoptotic activity and death in MNs. Additionally, EphA4 overexpression has been noted to correlate with the progression and resistance to chemotherapy of several human cancers including gastric, breast, and pancreatic cancers. The design of potent, selective, and effective EphA4 agonistic peptidomimetics may be desirable as therapies for ALS and cancer.

Brief Description

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) in collaboration Nationwide Children’s Hospital  have developed and characterized small peptidomimetics that act as EphA4 agonists. Given ALS is a heterogeneous disease, astrocytes reprogrammed from the fibroblasts of patients with sporadic and SOD1-linked ALS (iAstrocytes) were cultured with MNs and the UCR/Nationwide EphA4 agonists.  As seen in Fig. 1, these small agonistic peptidomimetics decrease MN death in iAstrocytes derived from sporadic ALS (sALS) cells. 

2020-246 

 

2020-246-2 

 

Application

  • A potential treatment for ALS and cancer

Patent Status

Country Type Number Dated Case
United States Of America Published Application 20230203096 06/29/2023 2020-246
 

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Keywords

EphA4, ALS, AD, cancer therapeutics, ephrin, diagnostic, Parkinson’s, Alzheimers, peptide

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