Expert opinion on therapeutic patents
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Expert Opin Ther Pat · Sep 2010
ReviewTransient receptor potential vanilloid-1 antagonists: a survey of recent patent literature.
Transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1, vanilloid receptor-1) is a nonspecific cation channel that can be activated by multiple endogenous stimuli and by capsaicin, the active ingredient in chili peppers. TRPV1 is expressed predominantly on sensory neurons where it is proposed to serve as a key nodal point in pain transmission pathways. Pharmacological blockade of TRPV1 represents a compelling strategy for the treatment of a variety of disease states, particularly those requiring chronic pain management. AREA COVERED IN THE REVIEW: This review summarizes patent literature and progress in defining the utility of small molecule TRPV1 antagonists during 2008-2009. ⋯ The continued profusion of reports, in both the primary and patent literature, attests to the sustained interest in the TRPV1 class of therapeutics. Although a number of compounds have now been brought forward for human clinical trials, the therapeutic utility of TRPV1 antagonists is yet to be validated unequivocally.
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Expert Opin Ther Pat · Oct 2013
ReviewNovel small molecule epithelial sodium channel inhibitors as potential therapeutics in cystic fibrosis - a patent evaluation.
Novel molecular platforms for epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) modulators are claimed in the following six patents: WO2012035158(A1); WO2009074575(A2); WO2011028740(A1); WO2009150137(A2); WO2011079087(A1); WO2008135557(A1). These ENaC inhibitors may be used in blocking transepithelial sodium and consequently water absorption across airway epithelia. This may result in airway rehydration and enhanced mucociliary clearance in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. ⋯ Most of the claims and patent data are supported by the currently available literature. The patents deliver a solid chemical basis for a variety of chemical modifications of the ENaC inhibitor amiloride. These modifications may result in the development of a novel, applicable ENaC inhibitors which may have lasting effects on diseased airways and may achieve airway rehydration and enhanced mucociliary clearance in CF lung disease.
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The voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) play a fundamental role in controlling cellular excitability and their abnormal activity is related to several pathological processes, including cardiac arrhythmias, epilepsy, neurodegenerative diseases, spasticity, chronic and neuropathic pain. In particular, neuropathic pain (e.g., postherpetic and trigeminal neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy and spinal cord injury) is a serious clinical problem that affects a high percentage of the world population. Because an altered sodium channel isoform expression profile has been considered one reason for the changes in neuronal excitability, there is a continuous quest for new selective molecules targeting sodium channels for the treatment of chronic pain. ⋯ The continuous discoveries in the field of sodium channel blockers, highlighted by the increasing numbers of patent applications published in the last few years and by the numbers of compounds currently in clinical development, underline the importance of this target for the treatment of neuropathic pain. The great difficulty in the design of new selective and active structures, not obtained from old VGSC blockers that are often associated with high risk of adverse effects, is a strong challenge for medicinal chemistry research.
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Expert Opin Ther Pat · Sep 2013
ReviewNon-peptidic δ opioid receptor agonists and antagonists (2000 - 2012).
The δ opioid receptor mediates various pharmacological effects such as antinociceptive and antidepressant effects, whereas it does not appear to induce μ opioid-like side effects such as dependence, respiratory depression and constipation. Therefore, the δ opioid receptor is a promising drug target. ⋯ Potential therapeutic effects by δ receptor agonists are antinociceptive, antidepressant, anxiolytic, cardioprotective and neuroprotective effects. Among them, anxiolytic effects are of particular interest because the anxiolytic effects by a δ receptor agonist have been observed in humans. Although non-peptidic δ receptor agonists were reported to show convulsive effects via the δ opioid receptor, some δ receptor agonists are known to produce no convulsive behaviors. Therefore, it may be possible to eliminate convulsion induced by a δ receptor agonist. Many δ receptor antagonists were also reported but there is little new information about pharmacological effects by a δ receptor antagonist. Although detailed results were not revealed, two δ receptor antagonists with μ receptor agonistic or antagonistic properties are in the late stages of the clinical trial.
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Sirtuin 1-7 (SIRT1-7) are deacetylases that are dependent on NAD(+) for their activity. SIRT1 down-regulates p53 activity, increasing lifespan, cell survival, and neuroprotection; it also deacetylates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma and its coactivator 1alpha, promoting fat mobilization, increasing mitochondrial size and number, and positively regulating insulin secretion. Sirtuins link nutrient availability and energy metabolism. Calorie restriction, which increases lifespan and is beneficial in age-related disorders, activates sirtuin. Major efforts are thus focused to developing sirtuin activators. ⋯ To date, resveratrol is the most potent natural compound able to activate SIRT1, mimicking the positive effect of calorie restriction. Resveratrol might help in the treatment or prevention of obesity and in preventing the aging-related decline in heart function and neuronal loss. As resveratrol has low bioavailability and interacts with multiple molecular targets, the development of new molecules with better bioavailability and targeting sirtuin at lower concentrations is a promising field of the medicinal chemistry. New SIRT1 activators that are up to 1000 times more effective than resveratrol have recently been identified. These improve the response to insulin and increase the number and activity of mitochondria in obese mice. Human trials with a formulation of resveratrol with improved bioavailability and with a synthetic SIRT1 activator are in progress.