The Technology
Type I hypersensitivity is a common form of allergy, affecting hundreds of millions of patients around the world, caused by allergen sensitization of immune mast cells. The most commonly-used allergy drugs, anti-histamines, target the symptoms of allergy, but cannot be used to treat long-term consequences of allergy, such as asthma. An alternative approach, immunotherapy, targets the underlying allergic mechanism, however, this approach is allergen-specific, time consuming and expensive. Gads is an adapter protein plays an important regulatory role in allergy, mediated by Gads dimerization and its interaction of the LAT-nucleated signalosome in mast cells. The developed technology offers a novel strategy for treating allergy by directly inhibiting the interaction of Gads with LAT-nucleated signalosome, creating targeted inhibition of mast cell activation.
Advantages
- Targeting both the sensitization and activation phases of the allergic response
- Non-dependent on identifying the particular allergens to which the patient is sensitive
Applications and Opportunities
- Prophylactic treatment during the allergy season, by administering a pharmacologic inhibitor of Gads dimerization
- Gads dimerization screening platform for drug development
Business Development Contacts