Curis, Inc.

Other

Biogen Idec, Inc.

Alphonse Galdes

R Blake Pepinsky

Ellen A Garber

Frederick Robbins Taylor

Jeffrey A Porter

Kevin P Williams

Dingyi Wen

Darren P Baker

Russell Colyn Petter

Nagesh K Mahanthappa

Paul H Weinreb

Kathryn Strauch

Chenhui Zeng

Hydrophobically-modified proteins and methods of making them are described. A hydrophobic moiety is attached to a surface amino acid residue of the protein. The hydrophobic moiety can be a lipid or a peptide. Alternatively, the protein can be derivatized by a wide variety of chemical reactions that append a hydrophobic structure to the protein. The preferred protein is of mammalian origin and is selected from the group consisting of Sonic, Indian, and Desert hedgehog. The hydrophobic moiety is used as a convenient tether to which may be attached a vesicle such as a cell membrane, liposome, or micelle.

Hydrophobically-modified protein compositions and methods

The present application is directed to the discovery that hedgehog gene products are able to protect peripheral nerve cells under conditions which otherwise result in peripheral neuropathy. Certain aspects of the invention are directed to preparations of hedgehog polypeptides, or other molecules which regulate patched or smoothened signalling, and their uses as protective agents against both acquired and hereditary neuropathies. As used herein, 'peripheral neuropathy' refers to a disorder affecting a segment of the peripheral nervous system. For instance, the method of the present invention can be used as part of a treatment program in the management of neuropathies associated with systemic disease, e.g., viral infections, diabetes, inflamation; as well as genetically acquired (hereditary) neuropathies, e.g., Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease; and neuropathies caused by a toxic agent, e.g., a chemotherapeutic agent such as vincristine.

Methods and compositions for treating or preventing peripheral neuropathies

Hydrophobically-modified hedgehog protein compositions and methods

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Lexington, MA, United States of America

Alphonse Galdes