Methods of Inhibition of Stenosis and/or Sclerosis of the Aortic Valve
Introduction Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD), ranging in severity from sclerosis to stenosis, is characterized by irregular areas of increased thickening on the aortic side of the valve. Until recently, CAVD was thought to be a degenerative and therefore unmodifiable disease. No pharmacological therapy has been shown to decrease CAVD progression and the surgical replacement of the valve is currently the only treatment that can be offered to patients. Different studies have now demonstrated that CAVD is an active cellular process suggesting this disease could be modified by pharmacological therapies. Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a method for treating CAVD, by acting on the reninangiotensin(RA) system. Technology description It has now been discovered that the RA system is involved in the progression of CAVD, and that the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is associated with low density lipoproteins both in human plasma and in aortic lesions. The present invention provides a method for treating a patient suffering from CAVD by administering a therapeutically effective amount of ACE antagonist, and thereby decreasing the amount of angiotensin II in the aortic valve of the patient. Business opportunity Calcific aortic valve disease is common, affecting 25% of adults over the age of 65 years, with progression to severe valve obstruction resulting in more than 50 000 aortic valve replacements annually in the United States. The worldwide valve replacement market for the annual 300,000 surgeries is valued at around $900 million a year; with aortic valve replacements representing 60% of the totality of this market. Intellectual property position
Type of Offer: Licensing
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