Inventor (s): Spencer Knapp, Achyutharao Sidduri 

Date Awarded: July 2020

Summary: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) comprise disorders that are characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, and include ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Treatment has traditionally involved anti-inflammatories such as corticosteroids, immune system suppressors such as cyclosporine, and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors such as the blockbuster monoclonal antibody drugs Humira, Remicade, and Embrel. These drugs are expensive, must be administered intravenously, and exhibit 30% inefficacy and multiple side effects. As part of our program to build drug-likeness properties into candidate molecules at an early stage, we will establish the efficacy of orally available small molecule macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) inhibitors against IBDs in animal models. Should a suitable candidate(s) emerge from these studies, structural corrections for solubility, permeability, toxicity, and metabolic vulnerability are expected to be minimized, leading to a faster and more direct drug approval process.

Market applications:

• IBD treatment
• Inflammation and cytokine storm
• Drug development
• Drug costs