Fiscal Year:
2001
Title:
A Specific Tool for Targeting Neurodegeneration
Agency:
HHS
Contract:
N/A
Award Amount:
$282,235.00
Abstract:
DESCRIPTION: (Adapted from the Applicant's Abstract) The Mouse is the species
of choice for many neuroscientists because of well-characterized molecular
biology and chemistry of its brain, the recent widespread use of transgenic and
knockout techniques, and the low cost and rapid breeding of the animal. Mice
will become more important upon completion of the sequencing of the mouse
genome. In 1994, Advanced Targeting Systems commercialized 192-Saporin, a
reagent that causes death of cholinergic basal forebrain (CBF) neurons in the
rat. A major detriment to the reagent is its lack of activity in the mouse. In
our Phase I work, we created an agent that removes CBF neurons in the mouse
without affecting other neurons or systems. In Phase II, it is proposed to
characterize this lesioning agent and to demonstrate its usefulness as a
reagent for modeling and studying neurodegenerative diseases such as
Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is a common, devastating neurodegenerative
disorder characterized by progressive cognitive decline. Loss of cholinergic
innervation occurs frequently and severely in patients with AD. The degree of
cognitive decline has been correlated to the extent of cholinergic degeneration
in the neocortex and loss of cholinergic neurons from CBF.
PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION:
The primary market for a mouse p75-Saporin immunotoxin includes scientists in both
academic and pharmaceutical laboratories who are involved in the study of Alzheimer's
disease (AD) and other disorders of the brain. These researchers are studying neuronal controls, behavior and/or treatments that affect a wide population suffering from
AD. The new mouse-specific immunotxin described in this application will be key
in the discovery process because the mouse is the only other mammal, besides
humans, scheduled for complete genetic sequencing. Another important asset
of a mouse-specific research tool is the ability of the researcher to combine
their use with transgenic models.
Principal Investigator:
Douglas A. Lappi
Small Business Information at Submission:
ADVANCED TARGETING SYSTEMS, INC.
BOX 910547 SAN DIEGO, CA 92191
EIN/Tax ID:
330632253
DUNS:
N/A
Number of Employees:
N/A
Woman-Owned:
No
Minority-Owned:
No
HUBZone-Owned:
No