The UB, the CSIC and the UAB license a patent to the company Janus Developments for the treatment of inflammatory diseases
The University of Barcelona (UB), the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) licensed a patent to the company Janus Developments for the treatment of inflammatory diseases that emerges. The patent is the result of the collaborative research developed by three research groups from these institutions on nucleic acids interference (siRNA). The results obtained so far predict that in a long term these products could be useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, asthma, psoriasis and even some types of cancer diseases.
The University of Barcelona (UB), the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) licensed a patent to the company Janus Developments for the treatment of inflammatory diseases that emerges. The patent is the result of the collaborative research developed by three research groups from these institutions on nucleic acids interference (siRNA). The results obtained so far predict that in a long term these products could be useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, asthma, psoriasis and even some types of cancer diseases.
Researchers have discovered how to inhibit those genes involved in inflammatory diseases related to the action of Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF-alpha). TNF-alpha plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, so the aim would be to regulate this factor and to improve greatly patientsʼ situation. Janus Developments is a company which aims at bringing basic research closer to industry in order to attain a really usefulness of inventions. Janus Developments licensed the patent to continue working in the development of this powerful therapy and to start pre-clinical trials. In a future, it is planned to involve more partners in the project as a way to fund its clinical development.
The research results, which constitute the patent applied for in 2010 and licensed now, are due to the work developed cooperatively by several research groups: the Nucleic Acid Chemistry Group (from the CSIC), led by Dr Ramon Eritja from the Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Cataluña; the Group on Metabolic Regulation during inflammatory processes and Diabetes (from the UB), led by Dr José Carlos Perales; and the Group on Inflammation and Tolerance (from the UAB), led by Dr Ester Fernández.
The negotiations between the UB research group and the company Janus Developments were conducted by the Bosch i Gimpera Foundation, the UB centre for the transfer of knowledge, technology and innovation.