The Technology
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally, accounting for one in four deaths in the U.S. alone. Despite this burden, the development of novel cardiovascular drugs over the past two decades has been limited, with concerns over their efficacy and long-term safety.
c-Jun dimerization protein 2 (JDP2) and Activating Transcription Factor 3 (ATF3) are members of the bZIP transcription factor family that play key roles in maladaptive cardiac remodeling. Cardiac-specific overexpression of either JDP2 or ATF3 in transgenic mice leads to impaired cardiac function and structural remodeling.
Targeting these proteins with small molecule inhibitors has demonstrated protective effects against maladaptive remodeling and led to the amelioration of cardiac dysfunction, including improved myocardial contractility and output. Recently, AI-driven drug design was applied to optimize lead compounds, accelerating the development of this novel therapeutic strategy.
Advantages
- First-in-class cardiovascular drug targeting bZIP transcription factors
- Improves myocardial contraction and suppresses cardiac remodeling
- AI-assisted compound optimization
- Platform for small-molecule screening of bZIP inhibitors
Applications and Opportunities
- Development of a novel heart failure therapy targeting maladaptive remodeling and improving cardiac output
- Use as a screening platform for bZIP-targeting small molecules in cardiac disease models
Business Development Contacts