Universitaetsklinikum Freiburg

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Universitätsklinikum Freiburg

Mikrogen Molekularbiologische Entwickslung-gmbh

Bauer, Georg

Motz, Manfred

Georg Bauer

Manfred Motz

Erwin Soutschek

The invention relates to single domain VHH fragments which specifically bind to and inhibit superoxide dismutase and/or bind to and inhibit catalase and/or bind to and inhibit superoxide dismutase and catalase, in particular for the use in the therapy of tumor diseases.

Antigen-binding constructs that bind to and inhibit catalase and/or superoxide dismutase as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing them for tumor therapy

The present patent application relates to a pharmaceutical composition, characterized in that it comprises at least one active ingredient which can bring about a singlet oxygen-independent direct catalase inactivation and that the composition further comprises at least one active ingredient that leads to inactivation of catalase as a result of modulation of the nitrogen oxide or superoxide anion metabolism of the cells and subsequent singlet oxygen formation.

Pharmaceutical composition having synergistic action of direct catalase inhibitors and modulators of no metabolism or of extracellular superoxide anion production which lead to catalase destruction

The present invention refers to a method for inducing tumor apoptosis by influencing the ROS (reactive oxygen species) signaling pathway in tumor cells. Increasing the level of ROS leads to the selective inactivation of a tumor cell catalase and subsequently to an apoptosis of these cells. The level of ROS can be increased by increasing the level of nitric oxide through inhibition of the enzymes nitric oxide dioxygenase or arginase. According to the present invention inhibitors of the nitric oxide dioxygenase or arginase can be used for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of cancer. The present invention further provides a method for identifying compounds which can be used for the treatment of cancer, wherein the method allows to specifically identify compounds which induce apoptosis through the ROS signaling pathway. The present invention also provides a kit for identifying compounds which induce tumor apoptosis by inactivating a catalase on the tumor cell surface.

Method for inducing tumor apoptosis by increasing nitric oxide levels

The present invention is based on the unexpected finding that, in addition to catalase, SOD is also involved in protecting tumor cells, wherein the inhibition effects of the two protective enzymes support one another in a complementary manner. The invention thus relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing at least two antibodies or the biologically active fragments thereof, wherein the one antibody is directed against the catalase and the other antibody is directed against the superoxide dismutase, as well as their use for treating a tumor disease.

Pharmaceutical composition comprising antibodies against catalase and superoxide dismutase for tumor therapy

In the area of virus diagnosis, in particular Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) diagnosis, methods for the detection of EBV and agents suitable for this purpose are provided, including peptides which are derived from p18-VCA and permit discrimination between acute and past EBV infection.

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Freiburg, Germany

Georg Bauer