Cell based systems for identifying compounds for the treatment of pain

Reference Number TO 01-00681

 

The Challenge

Mechanotransduction is the basis for, inter alia, the sense of mechanical pain. At present only two classes of drugs have been successfully used to treat pain with hyperalgesia and allodynia. These drugs belong to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) class and to opiate analgesics. Because of their severe side effects which can include addiction and tolerance the latter drugs often have limited value. On the other hand the NSAID have proven to be often only of limited effectiveness in relieving completely pain associated with chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore there is a strong demand for new and more effective drugs in pain therapy.
The use of new molecular targets distinct from that of NSAID and opiate analgesics seems to be promising for producing better analgesics. Means and methods are needed which allow the identification of compounds which interact with the new molecular targets and which act as analgesics for treating a wide variety of persistent pain conditions.

 

Selection of RNA-pulsed dendritic cells Source: Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Molecular Immunology

The Technologies

  

The portfolio consists of six inventions (patent families) addressing different questions regarding optimized strategies in transferring TCR to T lymphocytes or in the application of dendritic cells (DC) as efficient anti-tumor vaccines, using semi-allogeneic vaccines (HLA-mismatched MHC-peptide ligands to stimulate alloresponses and T helper cells), in combining non-MHC-restricted T cells/NK cells and MHC-restricted cells, and using co-expression of allogeneic MHC molecules and antigens to induce peptide-specific T-cells from non-selected T-cell repertoires. The experiments performed especially apply to options to treat renal cell carcinoma (RCC), other tumor diseases can also be addressed. The improvements from the projects may accelerate the steps toward a personalized cancer therapy.

 

Commercial Benefit

   

Adoptive immunotherapy and improved cellular immunotherapy approaches by genetic modification of T cells and DC provide a tremendous future option to treat, cure and/or prevent tumor formation, progression and metastasis. This portfolio forms a basis of great value for cell-based therapies within a market of about 60 billion US$ prospected for 2010.

 

Development Status

  

The data result mostly from in vitro experimental settings. In vivo proof-of-concept in mice are ongoing, but not yet finished.

 

Patent situation

  

 Patents are granted in the EU (EP1372723; EP1275400), other EP- as well as US- (US 2003/0095955; US 2005/0175596), JP-, and PCT-applications are pending.

 

Commercial Opportunity

  

License to the portfolio as a whole or to single projects is being offered worldwide, on a exclusive or non-exclusive basis. In addition, cooperation in various projects can be offered and will be strongly desired.

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Contact:

Dr. Hubert Mueller
Technology Manager
Ascenion GmbH

T: +49 (0)89 318814-32
F: +49 (0)89 318814-20
E: mueller(at)ascenion.de