Max-Planck-Gesellschaft Zur F&#xf6;rderung Der Wissenschaften E. V.

Affectis Pharmaceuticals Ag

Phenoquest Ag

Marcelo Paez-Pereda

Marta Labeur

Inge Sillaber

Guenter Stalla

Nicholas Barden

The present invention relates to C-terminal HSP90 inhibitors, like silibinin, novobiocin and derivatives thereof, stereoisomeric forms, prodrugs, solvates, hydrates and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts of these compounds as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one of these compounds together with pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient and/or diluents. Said compounds and its compositions have been identified as useful for the treatment of pituitary adenomas such as corticotroph adenomas, lactotroph adenomas, somatotroph adenomas and thyrotroph adenomas.

C-terminal HSP90 inhibitors to treat pituitary adenomas

The present invention relates to a method for identifying a TMEFF2 modulator, comprising (a) contacting a cell which expresses TMEFF2 with a candidate compound to be tested; (b) measuring whether said compound to be tested decreases or increases the level of a constituent of the cAMP signalling pathway, preferably the CRH signalling pathway, in said cell when compared to a corresponding cell which does not express TMEFF2; (b') optionally determining whether said compound is capable of reduncing the binding between Activin and TMEFF2; and (c) identifying said modulator compound. Furthermore, a method for identifying a TMEFF2 modulator comprising determining whether said TMEFF2 modulator is capable of reducing the binding between Activin and TMEFF2 is contemplated. It also relates to uses and methods applying a TMEFF2 agonist for the treatment of Cushing's Syndromes and a TMEFF2 modulator for the treatment of affective disorders. Furthermore, methods of diagnosing affective disorders or Cushing's Syndromes are provided.

Method of treating depression

Nucleic acid molecules encoding an ATP-gated ion channel P2X7R which contains a mutation or a deletion are disclosed. Polypeptides encoded by the nucleic acid molecules and antibodies that specifically are directed to these polypeptides are disclosed. Aptamers that specifically bind the nucleic acid molecules, and primers for selectively amplifying the nucleic acid molecules are provided, kits, compositions, particularly pharmaceutical and diagnostic compositions comprising the nucleic acid molecules, vectors, polypeptides, aptamers, antibodies and/or primers, are provided. Methods for diagnosing affective disorders associated with a non-functional P2X7R protein, an altered ATP-gating of the P2X7R protein, an over- or underexpression of the P2X7R protein or associated with the presence of any one of the nucleic acid molecules or polypeptides encoded thereby are disclosed. Additionally, the present invention relates to uses and methods for treating affective disorders employing a functional or non-functional ATP-gated ion-channel P2X7R, such as treatment with modulators of P2X7R activity.

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Munich, Germany

Marcelo Paez-Pereda