SAN DIEGO - (October 15, 2009) A discovery by scientists at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology has entered pharmaceutical research for use in the creation of a potential new antibody therapy for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, the La Jolla Institute announced today. The discovery--of a molecule known as LIGHT--was made in the laboratory of Carl Ware, Ph.D.
"We are elated to see this finding move toward use as a new treatment to improve human health and relieve suffering," said Mitchell Kronenberg, Ph.D., La Jolla Institute president & scientific director. "As a nonprofit biomedical research institute, our mission is to find the molecular causes of diseases, with the hope that our discoveries will one day be translated into new and better therapies. This is an important step toward that goal." The Institute has several other technologies that were recently licensed for clinical development. It is an international leader in immunology research, and San Diego's only institute focused on immune-mediated diseases.
Dr. Ware's research found that LIGHT is a key signaling molecule which triggers a cascade of interactions, leading to inflammation in the body. Inflammation is the underlying cause of many autoimmune diseases, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The potential therapy would work by using an antibody to block the action of LIGHT in order to lessen the inflammatory effects of these diseases.
La Jolla Institute partnered with Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd. (Kyowa Hakko Kirin), a global specialty pharmaceutical company, to develop Dr. Ware's discovery of the LIGHT molecule, and the antibody that blocks it. Earlier this year, Kyowa Hakko Kirin signed a collaboration and licensing agreement with Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY), a global healthcare company, to advance the development of the new anti-LIGHT antibody therapy. The potential therapy is currently in pharmaceutical research for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and may also be pursued in further indications such as rheumatoid arthritis.
The LIGHT molecule is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of proteins, which are lines of communication used by inflammation-causing white blood cells linked to a variety of autoimmune diseases.
Therapies that block TNF molecules, known as TNF blockers, are already used for the treatment of Crohn's disease and several other inflammatory disorders. However, these therapies do not work for all sufferers, so it is hoped that the anti-LIGHT antibody may help the significant number of Crohn's disease sufferers who do not respond well or at all to the existing TNF therapies, along with helping people with ulcerative colitis.
"There's an unmet medical need," said Dr. Ware. "I hope our work can help those patients who don't respond to the current TNF-based Crohn's therapies and that LIGHT-based antibody therapy may also be applicable to a number of other autoimmune diseases. The TNF family is an exciting area of research that holds great potential for many diseases linked to inflammation."
About La Jolla Institute
Founded in 1988, the La Jolla
Institute for Allergy & Immunology is a biomedical research nonprofit
focused on improving human health through increased understanding of the immune
system. Its scientists carry out
research seeking new knowledge leading to the prevention of disease through
vaccines and the treatment and cure of infectious diseases, cancer and
autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 (juvenile) diabetes,
Crohn's disease and asthma. La
Jolla Institute's research staff includes more than 100 Ph.D.s and M.D.s.
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