A cell-penetrating, anti-inflammatory peptide developed by听, Louise B. McGavock Chair and Distinguished Professor of Medicine, and licensed to biopharmaceutical company听Amytrx, has been approved by the FDA for testing as a potential therapeutic for mild to moderate eczema. The peptide, known as AMTX-100, has been in clinical trials since March.听
The licensing agreement, facilitated by the听 and the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, enables translation of the product of the Hawiger team鈥檚听decades-long academic research from the lab to a clinical setting. The result is the near-term opportunity to improve the health and well-being of people with a wide range of inflammatory and metabolic diseases, including psoriasis, rosacea, acne, herpes type 1 and 2, and shingles.听听
鈥淭he research led by Dr.听Hawiger听has immense opportunity to address a variety of conditions connected to inflammation,鈥� said Vice Provost for Research Padma Raghavan.听听
AMTX-100 is a peptide, or chain of amino acids, designed to swiftly penetrate the membrane of inflamed cells that were injured by microbial, autoimmune, allergic, metabolic or physical insults. Once inside of cells, AMTX-100 prevents the cell鈥檚 nucleus鈥攁 command center of inflammation鈥攆rom triggering an otherwise unfavorable inflammatory response. Without such intervention that targets nuclear transport checkpoint, cells produce a myriad of chemicals that mediate inflammation and keep affected organs on fire. This peptide has been developed by 贬补飞颈驳别谤鈥檚听team to naturally alter the route through which our own proinflammatory proteins cause swelling, redness, fever, pain, and impaired function, without sacrificing the cell鈥檚 ability to grow and carry out its functions. Research has shown that this approach has significantly fewer side effects and safety concerns than many anti-inflammatory drugs addressing the same issue, creating a potentially significant market opportunity.听听
鈥淲e are working to safely address a key mechanism of so many diseases and health conditions that make life more difficult than it should be,鈥� said听Hawiger, also professor of molecular physiology and biophysics. 鈥淚 am very pleased to be at this phase of translational research that reaffirms our vision, shared by听Amytrx听co-founder and Director Thomas Andrews, to develop this groundbreaking therapeutic approach with听Amytrx.鈥澨�听
As a co-founder of听Amytrx,听Hawiger听will be involved in further study and research on this transformative anti-inflammatory therapy by conducting preclinical studies in experimental models of human disease with high unmet need.听听
鈥�The progression of this work to听Amytrx听is in no small part thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization team,鈥� Raghavan said. 鈥淭hey have been incredibly engaged in鈥痓ringing game-changing innovation from Vanderbilt research labs to the real world.鈥澨�听
鈥�Dr.听贬补飞颈驳别谤鈥檚鈥痑nti-inflammatory peptide platform听is exceptionally promising,鈥� said Dr. Matt听Gonda,听础尘测迟谤虫鈥檚听CEO, president and co-founder. 鈥�Meaningful research鈥痺ith human applications鈥痩ike this cannot be kept to academia.鈥疶here is a need for a commercialization partner to bring it to fruition听in order to听reach the public.鈥�Amytrx听is听thrilled to be working together鈥痶o bring鈥痵cience with such broad implications for unmet medical needs to the bedside, and our therapeutics听a step closer to patient鈥痷se.鈥�听