Senju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Tohoku University

Chiho Fukiage

Mitsuyoshi Azuma

Jun Inoue

Masayuki Nakamura

Yuka Yoshida

Takashi Toyama

Yoshiro Saito

Noriyasu Hirasawa

Yayoi Kishimoto

A calpain protein which is specific for the retina in eye tissues containing a protein having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 in Sequence Listing; a DNA represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 in Sequence Listing which encodes the above protein; a vector containing this DNA; a transformant transformed by this vector; and a process for producing the calpain protein which comprises culturing the transformant.

Calpain and DNA encoding the same

Angiogenesis inhibitor

An angiogenesis inhibitor comprising a cysteine protease inhibitory compound. As the preferable cysteine protease inhibitory compound, epoxysuccinic acid compounds, peptide halohydrazide compounds, calpain inhibitory compounds, compounds of the formula (I)

An angiogenesis inhibitor comprising a cysteine protease inhibitory compound. As the preferable cysteine protease inhibitory compound, epoxysuccinic acid compounds, peptide halohydrazide compounds, calpain inhibitory compounds, compounds of the formula (I) ##STR1## and compounds of the formula (VI) ##STR2## can be used. The angiogenesis inhibitor of the present invention suppresses new formation of blood vessels in the living tissues, so that it can be used as a superior therapeutic or prophylactic agent of angiogenesis associated with wound healing, inflammation, growth of tumor and the like; and angiogenesis as seen in diabetic retinopathy, prematurity retinopathy, retinal venous occlusion, senile discoid macular degeneration and the like, as well as for prevention of metastasis of tumors.

Growing community of inventors

Katano, Japan

Chiho Fukiage