A Novel Anti-Obesity Therapeutic

A protein/peptide based therapy for the prevention and treatment of obesity with desirable side effect profile.

 

Problem Solved by the Technology

Obesity is one of the major public health concerns with a more than a third of US adults considered obese. Obesity is associated with many diseases and reduces life expectancy. Current treatments for obesity include the use of medications or even surgery.  Approved drugs target appetite, food absorption and metabolism but often have undesirable effects.

 

Applications

Researchers from the University of Rochester have shown that Thy1 (CD90) protein inhibits fat cell formation and fat accumulation. Mice lacking Thy1 gain more weight than control mice when given a high fat diet. A more thorough study is planned to confirm the role of Thy1 in prevention of diet induced obesity in mice. Additionally, the researchers are looking to develop a small Thy1-based peptide to be used as a therapeutic for obesity. Peptide-derived therapies targeting adipose tissue are currently unrepresented in the obesity therapeutic market. Peptide therapeutics are more specific and are associated with less side effects than their small molecule counterparts. Thy1 is a naturally derived protein, thus it is less likely to generate an immune response.

 

URV Reference Number: 6-2035
Patent Information:
Category(s):
Therapeutic
For Information, Contact:
Blaze Pharoah
Licensing Manager
University of Rochester
585-276-6600
blaze_pharoah@urmc.rochester.edu
Inventors:
Collynn Woeller
Steven Feldon
Richard Phipps
Keywords: