Mcgill University

The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning / Mcgill University

Mimetogen Pharmaceuticals, Inc

Aoa Dx

H Uri Saragovi

Karen Meerovitch

Teresa Lama

Martin Gagnon

Lynne LeSauteur

Garth Cumberlidge

Wenyong Tong

The present invention relates to methods of treating or preventing retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death and/or glaucoma using modulators of neurotrophic receptors that comprise &#x3b2;-turn peptidomimetic cyclic compounds or derivatives thereof. The neurotrophic receptor modulators can be used alone, in combination and/or in conjunction with one or more other compounds, molecules or drugs that treat or prevent ocular hypertension, RGC death and/or glaucoma.

Methods of use of Trk receptor modulators

The present invention relates to methods to treat glaucoma and glaucoma-related conditions through the regulation of changes in gene expression that are mediated by high intraocular pressure or &#x3b1;2 macroglobulin administration. Glaucoma, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death and chronic ocular hypertension are treated using pharmaceutical compositions which comprise substances that inhibit the expression or activity of intraocular pressure-regulated early genes (IPREGs) or their gene products that are up-regulated by high intraocular pressure or &#x3b1;2 macroglobulin administration and/or which increase the expression or activity of IPREGs or their gene products that are down-regulated by high intraocular pressure or &#x3b1;2 macroglobulin administration. The invention also relates to methods of identifying an IPREG and methods to test for chronic ocular degeneration and the onset of RGC stress in an individual by measuring the expression level of IPREG proteins.

Treatment of ocular disease with inhibitors of alpha2 macroglobulin protein

The invention provides ligands of ganglioside GD2, including peptide ligands such as GGITNYNSALM; YCGGITNYNSACY; YCITNYNSCY; YCGGITNYNCY; YCTNYGVHCY; YCTNYGVCY; GGIANYNTS; YCGGIANYNCY; YCGGIANYNTSCY; and, YCIANYNTCY. GD2 ligands of the invention may for example be used to treat or diagnose diseases such as cancers in which cells express GD2, including neuroblastomas.

GD2 ligands

The present invention relates to an agonistic anti-human TrkA mAb 5C3 which recognizes the NGF docking site. Such antibodies may be used for the treatment, diagnosis or prevention of neurological diseases, neuromas and neoplastic tumors which express TrkA receptors. Also these antibodies may be used to develop and screen for pharmaceutical agents which are agonistic or antagonistic to NGF binding to the TrkA receptors.

Growing community of inventors

Montreal, Canada

H Uri Saragovi