Treatment of African Sleeping Sickness and Chagas Disease
Introduction African human trypanosomiasis is caused by the protozoan parasites Trypanosoma brucei which is transmitted through the bite of tsetse flies. Ultimately the trypanosomes cross the blood-brain barrier to invade the central nervous system causing often fatal neurological disorders. Current drugs require long, difficult time courses of administration are cause significant side-effects. Business opportunity The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that between 300,000 and 500,000 people are affected, and that the disease threatens 60 million people worldwide. In some endemic areas it is estimated that up to 20 per cent of the population are infected. It has a serious social and economic impact by affecting the workforce and resources, and is a major obstacle to development in these areas. Another species of Trypanosoma, called T. cruzi, exists in Central and South America and is the cause of Chagas' disease. Technology description Screens for compounds to inhibit phosphodiesterase activity in Trypanosoma brucei have been developed, and compounds active in killing the parasite have been identified. Intellectual property position United States and European patent applications have been filed. Related Publications Trypanosome cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 2B binds cAMP through its GAF-A domain. Laxman S, Rascon A, Beavo JA. J Biol Chem. 2005 ;280(5):3771-9. Cloning and characterization of a cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase (TbPDE2B) from Trypanosoma brucei. Rascon A, Soderling SH, Schaefer JB, Beavo JA. PNAS U S A. 2002;99(7):4714-9.Type of Offer: Licensing
« More Medical Patents