Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects 250,000 people in the US. MS is a chronic immunopathological disease due to T cell-mediated response to central nervous system (CNS) autoantigens, resulting in multiple focal CNS lesions and clinical manifestations. The current treatments for MS require regular injections, yet do not effectively prevent relapse of disease. Recent results from numerous laboratories have demonstrated that the progressive deterioration of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an MS model in rodents, is effectively suppressed by administration of autoantigens to the mucosal immune tissues. A cost-effective, easy to administer medication tackling the cause of MS will help MS patients to live a productive life. Based on the preliminary results of a peptide analog which effectively inhibited relapses of EAE in SJL mice when administered intro-nasally, this proposal aims to continue testing this analog and two additional auto-immune suppressive peptides to a specific cellular pathway of the immune tissues to induce organ-specific immunosuppression. The Phase I SBIR will enable the synthesis and testing of these analogs for treating the murine EAE. The proposes approach has the potential application for treating juvenile diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and for protecting organ transplants.

Proposed Commercial Applications

NOT AVAILABLE

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) - Phase I (R43)
Project #
1R43NS038356-01A1
Application #
6016672
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BDCN-1 (02))
Program Officer
Kerza-Kwiatecki, a P
Project Start
1999-09-30
Project End
2001-10-30
Budget Start
1999-09-30
Budget End
2001-10-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Bioadvances, LLC
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104