Patent Issued for Novel Anti-Malaria Target
The US Patent and Trademark Office has granted a patent for targets and methods to develop new drugs for malaria, announced Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties (VTIP) this week.
Scientists have been searching for decades for a way to target malaria-causing parasites that have infected the human body. Researchers from the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) at Virginia Tech discovered and characterized a protein the parasites make, called Heme Detoxification Protein (HDP) which is key to doing just that. Dharmendar Rathore, formerly an assistant professor at VBI, led the effort, working closely with Dewal Jani, a molecular and protein biologist, and Rana Nagarkatti, protein biochemist and molecular biologist, to identify and isolate the protein that is so vital for the parasite’s survival.
Every year 350-500 million people are infected and more than one million people die from malaria. “New drugs developed with this discovery will have a huge impact, said Otto Folkerts, associate director of technology development at VBI.
Rathore explained that drugs used for malaria therapy today target a host (human) metabolic process, which involves the heme byproduct that is natural to the human body. The ideal target for an anti-infective drug is a pathogen protein, so that human metabolism isn’t disrupted.
“We’ve discovered the piece to the puzzle that was missing.†said Rathore. “With HDP, you will be targeting a parasite-specific factor, which is absolutely unique, and that’s a big plus in the field of drug discoveryâ€, he continued.
VTIP is seeking a pharmaceutical company to continue the drug development work that is needed in order to take Rathore’s discovery to the next stage. The cost of any malaria treatment will need to be affordable in parts of the world where malaria is widespread. Large pharmaceutical companies have an interest in devoting a portion of their research to underserved humanitarian medical needs, so VTIP is looking for a company with an interest in the area of malaria research and treatment to license the rights to this newly issued patent.
For more information visit the VTIP website.
