Other

Licentia, Ltd.

Herantis Pharma Plc.

Ntf Therapeutics, Inc.

Cephalon, Inc.

University of Helsinki

Kemira Oy, Biotech

Licestia Ltd.

Baltic Technology Development, Ltd.

Genecode As

Herantis Pharma Oyj

Helsingin Yliopiston Rahastot

Hermo Pharma Ltd.

Myneurocure Oy

Saarma, Mart

Mart Saarma

Raimo Tuominen

Päivi Lindholm

Maria Lindahl

Tonis Timmusk

Juha Lauren

Richard Penn

Pia Runeberg-Roos

Maxim Bespalov

Robert L Hudkins

Petro Suvanto

Mati Karelson

Mikko Airavaara

Hannu Sariola

Kevin M Walton

Ulla Pirvola

Jukka Ylikoski

Mehis Pilv

Liina Nevalaita

Merja Voutilainen

Johan Peränen

Maxim M Bespalov

Jaan-Olle Andressoo

Veli-Matti Leppänen

Carlos F Ibanez

Heikki Rauvala

Veli-Matti Leppanen

Kirsi Sainio

Urmas Arumae

Teemu Teeri

Merikke Kelve

Erkki Truve

Miles Trupp

Urmas Arum&auml;e

Urmas Arumäe

Dmitri Poteriaev

Alexey Vladimirovich Titievsky

Jari Rossi

Tönis Timmusk

Dimitri Poteriaev

Matti Airaksinen

Li-Ying Yu

Sarka Tumova

Päivi Pulkkila

Paeivi Lindholm

Johan Peranen

Li Ying Yu

The present invention relates to Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) protein and gene and is, in particular, directed to a novel splice variant of GDNF protein, which is encoded by a novel splice variant pre-(&#x3b3;)pro-GDNF, and secreted under biological regulation.

Splice variants of GDNF and uses thereof

The present invention generally relates to the field of treatment of neuronal disorders and more particularly to neurotrophic factor MANF and uses thereof. The present invention provides a pharmaceutical compound comprising MANF nucleic acid molecule, MANF protein or a functional fragment thereof for the treatment of a peripherial neuropathy including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, drug addiction and ischemic brain injury.

Neurotrophic factor MANF and uses thereof

Neurturin polypeptides which possess reduced heparin and heparan sulfate binding affinity but retain neurotrophic activity, nucleic acids which encode the neurturin variants and vectors and host cells which express the enhanced neurturin polypeptides. Use of the enhanced neurturin polypeptides, nucleic acids and host cells in the treatment or prevention of disease.

Neurturin molecules

The present invention discloses a novel neurotrophic factor protein, MANF2 and a genetic sequence encoding the same. The molecule will be useful in the development of a range of therapeutics and diagnostics useful in the treatment, prophylaxis and/or diagnosis of MANF2 dependent conditions. The molecule of the present invention is also a useful effector of primary and central neurons, especially dopaminergic neurons at the central nervous system and growth factor genes.

MANF2 for treatment of Parkinson's disease

A method for treating a condition in a patient, wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, stroke and peripheral neuropathy. The method consists of administering to the patient a pharmaceutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising the MANF2 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or a functional fragment thereof.

Treatment with a pharmaceutical composition comprising MANF2 necleic acid

Disclosed are compounds and methods for treating neurological and other disorders by administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound having binding and/or modulation specificity for GFR&#x3b1; receptor molecules, which can be mimetics of glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family ligands (GFLs), GFR&#x3b1;/RET signaling pathway agonists, and/or direct RET agonists (activators).

Methods of facilitating neural cell survival using GDNF family ligand (GFL) mimetics or RET signaling pathway activators

The present invention relates to an in vitro method for identifying a molecule, which interferes with the interaction between a glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor family ligand (GFL) and a heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), by screening a library of molecules against a matrix anchored complex comprising at least one immobilized glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor family ligand (GFL) and at least one heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), wherein the interfering molecule is isolated based on its capacity to replace a glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor family ligand (GFL) in said anchored complex. The invention also relates to a complex for identifying such a molecule. The invention also relates to methods for preventing or delaying a neurodegenerative process as well as to method for prophylactic treatment or treatment of a disorder in the nervous system.

Receptor for GDNF family ligands

Methods for preventing or treating damage to sensory hair cells and cochlear neurons are disclosed. The methods comprise the administration of an effective amount of a compound of Formula I or Formula II. The method provides for the prevention/treatment of both hearing loss and loss of the sense of balance.

Methods for preventing/treating damage to sensory hair cells and cochlear neurons

The present invention provides compounds having a chelating moiety and an oligonucleotide sequence wherein the oligonucleotide includes one or more modified nucleobases, such as hydroxynucleobases. The disclosed compounds are suitable for antisense therapy. The chelating moiety can be complexed to an ion of a lanthanide metal. These compounds are efficient translation inhibitors of nucleic acids and have increased binding affinity for target nucleic acids. The invention also includes compositions and methods of using these compositions as antisense therapy.

Antisense agents combining strongly bound base-modified oligonucleotide and artificial nuclease

The invention provides methods and compositions for identifying agents which modulate cell death, indicated e.g. by the expression of caspase-2 and/or caspase-7, in GDNF family growth factor deprived neuronal or nonneuronal cells. The methods for identifying such agents find particular application in drug development.

Method of screening cell death modulators

The present invention discloses purified and isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides having a structure substantially similar to that of splicing forms of mammalian GFR&#x3b1;4 comprising the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:1:)-(SEQ ID NO:6:). The preferred sequences comprise cDNAs having the sequence (SEQ ID NO:7:)-(SEQ ID NO:13:). The present invention is also related to purified and isolated polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence and or substantially similar splicing forms of mammalian GFR&#xe0;4. Furthermore, the invention is related to substances capable of specifically recognizing said polypeptides and including both antibodies and receptors. The active compounds of the present invention including cDNAS, polypeptides, binding substances, and antibodies. The invention is useful not only for producing cell-lines and/or transgenic non-human animal but also for diagnosing and treating neuronal disorders or endocrine tumors as well as other related diseases by enabling measurements of GFR&#x3b1;4-mediated signalling in endocrine cells and neurons.

Compounds related to or derived from GFR &#x3b1;4 and their use

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Mart Saarma