B3
Tau aggregation inhibiting peptides as a basis for future therapies for Alzheimer's disease
Prof. Aileen Funke, Hochschule Coburg; Marwa Malhis, Hochschule Coburg
BayPAT
Challenge
A group of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer disease (AD), Pick disease and progressive supranuclear palsy are associated with neurofibrillary tangles composed of the tau protein as well as toxic tau oligomers. Therefore, tau appears to represent a valuable therapeutic target and inhibitors of pathological tau aggregation are being extensively investigated. Two hexapeptides within tau, PHF6* (275VQIINK280) and PHF6 (306VQIVYK311), are known to be essential for tau aggregation, though PHF6* has recently been described as the stronger driver.
Technology
The technology describes PHF6* fibril binding peptides consisting of D-enantiomeric amino acids. D-enantiomeric peptides are extremely protease stable and considerably less immunogenic than L-peptides, and the suitability of D-peptides for in vivo applications has already been clearly demonstrated. The most interesting peptide, designated MMD3, was additionally found in a selection against tau monomer. MMD3 and its retro-inverso form, designated MMD3rev, clearly inhibits PHF6* and full length tau fibrilization in vitro.
Commercial Opportunity
Tau aggregation inhibiting peptides for future tauopathy therapies
Development Status
In vitro proof of principle
Patent Situation
EP filed in 2019
