Methods and Compositions for Inhibiting Angiogenesis (21064/21013/20001/96047)

Investigators at Northwestern University have discovered that pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF), a glycoprotein secreted by a variety of normal cells, is an unusually potent endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis, and is particularly active in the eye, the prostate, the pancreas and the kidney. Exogenous PEDF has been shown to inhibit tumor growth and increase tumor necrosis in a mouse Wilm’s tumor model and in xenograph models of human prostate cancers and neuroblastomas. The primary therapeutic application of PEDF is to inhibit tumor angiogenesis thereby slowing tumor growth, enhancing the efficacy of standard therapies, and holding occult metastases in check. In addition, PEDF may have applications in treating other angiogenesis-dependent diseases including arthritis, psoriasis, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.

SUMMARY: PEDF induces apoptotic death in activated endothelial cells that are forming new vessels needed to support tumor growth while sparing the quiescent cells that make up the preformed vasculature. Many current inhibitors of angiogenesis in use or in clinical trials have inherent problems related to toxicity, antigenicity and lack of specificity. The inhibitor reported here is an endogenous protein, and should not display toxicity nor invoke an immune response when administered to patients as a therapeutic. This inhibitor is unusually potent, more effective than either endostatin or angiogstatin, and blocks endothelial cell migration with an EC50 of 0.4 nM.

A patent application has been filed and Northwestern is interested in licensing the technology for commercialization in multiple fields of use.

Gene therapy for ocular indications is no longer available for licensing.

U. S. Patent Nos. 6,288,024. 6,391,850, and 6,670,333

Type of Offer: Licensing



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