Aston University

Mirzyme Therapeutics Limited

Other

Asif Ahmed

Keqing Wang

Shakil Ahmad

Meng Cai

Keqinq Wang

Described is a method of diagnosis or prognosis of preeclampsia in a pregnant subject, comprising providing a sample from a pregnant subject and measuring the ratio between the amount of (a) one or both of sFlt-1 and PlGF, and (b) one or both of a breakdown product of heme and a breakdown product of arginine, in the sample. Also described are assay kits and a computer adapted for use in the method. Also described is a method of treating preeclampsia, comprising administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of L-arginine and/or citrulline and an inhibitor of arginase or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Also described is a method of treating cancer, comprising treating a subject with a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-VEGF compound, L-arginine and an arginase inhibitor.

Diagnostic assay and treatment for preeclampsia

The invention provides a method of treating preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction (FGR or IUGR), obesity in pregnancy, post-partum cardiomyopathy (heart failure in mothers), cancer and diabetic retinopathy, cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, wet microdegeneration and other disorders where angiogenesis is aberrant either diminished or exacerbated, comprising modulating the activity of micro RNA (miRNA). Also provided are an MiRNA modulator or a combination thereof or functional fragments or homologues thereof for use in the treatment of preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, obesity in pregnancy, cancer, and diabetic retinopathy, cardiomyocyte infarction, wet microdegeneration as well as other disorder where angiogenesis is aberrant either diminished or exacerbated. Methods of modulating angiogenesis and pharmaceutical compositions using miR-122, miR-374b or inhibitors of miR-152 or miR195 are also provided together with methods of diagnosis using the miRNAs.

Preeclampsia

The invention provides a method of diagnosis or prognosis of preeclampsia in a pregnant subject, comprising providing a sample from a pregnant subject and measuring the ratio between the amount of (a) one or both of sFlt-1 and PlGF, and (b) one or both of a breakdown product of heme and a breakdown product of arginine, in the sample. Also described are assay kits and a computer adapted for use in the method. Also described is a method of treating preeclampsia, comprising administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of L-arginine and/or citrulline and an inhibitor of arginase or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Also described is a method of treating cancer, comprising treating a subject with a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-VEGF compound, L-arginine and an arginase inhibitor.

The application describes Hydrogen Sulphide (HS), or a (HS) generating compound or compound capable of stimulating HS production in a pregnant subject, for use in the treatment of pre-eclampsia (PE) or fetal growth restriction.

Hydrogen sulphide compounds

The use of an agent for controlling vascular permeability within the cervix is disclosed for controlling cervical ripening. To hasten cervical ripening, the agent is one which increases vascular permeability and is selected from VEGF, VEGF, VEGF, VEGF, VEGF, a smaller, active VEGF fragment, and placenta growth factor (PlGF). If cervical ripening is to be delayed, the agent is one which reduces vascular permeability, e.g. a VEGF receptor antagonist or antibody. The agents of the present invention can be used as a means of managing labor.

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West Midlands, United Kingdom

Asif Ahmed