GeneRegs: Nanoparticles for Treatment of Severe Asthma
Application
Gold nanoparticles coated with enzyme which specifically targets and degrades asthma-associated inflammation molecules.
Key Benefits
- Specifically suppresses asthma associated inflammation.
- Easy self-administration by inhalation.
Market Summary
Asthma is defined as a chronic inflammatory lung disease with significant worldwide morbidity. Currently, inhaled corticosteroids are one of the essential long-term maintenance therapies for all patients with persistent asthma. In general, oral corticosteroids suppress the immune response to control asthma symptoms and asthma exacerbations, but the immune suppression is global rather than specifically targeted to asthma-driven inflammation or directly to the lung. Corticosteroids can also cause significant side effects, such as hyperglycemia, osteoporosis and weight gain, which require additional therapeutics to treat them. Therefore, there is a dire need for safer therapeutics treating chronic inflammatory diseases such as asthma in a specific manner without inducing side effects.
Technical Summary
Emory inventors have created GeneRegs—gold nanoparticles coated with enzyme capable of specifically targeting and degrading key molecules underlying pathogenesis in asthma. GeneRegs can be administered in the form of micro droplets via nebulizer, which can turn liquid medicine into mist for easy inhalation. Preliminary experiments indicated that nanoparticles coated with DNAzyme specifically targeting GATA-3, a protein involved in asthma associated inflammation, can provide effective treatment in mice models of asthma. This nucleobase polymer degrades GATA-3 mRNA, enabling the management of disorders associated with excessive GATA-3 expression. GeneRegs may provide more efficient and safer inflammatory and respiratory therapeutics that can substitute corticosteroid use in severe asthma and other chronic inflammations.
Developmental Stage
Proof of concept has been demonstrated in animal model.
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Patent Information
| App Type |
Country |
Serial No. |
Patent No. |
File Date |
Issued Date |
Patent Status |
| Nationalized PCT - United States |
United States |
16/304,549 |
10,905,710 |
11/26/2018 |
2/2/2021 |
Issued |
| Nationalized PCT - Foreign |
EP |
17803507.7 |
|
12/19/2018 |
|
Pending |
| Continuation |
United States |
17/122,946 |
|
12/15/2020 |
|
Pending |
|
|