Access to University of Maryland, Baltimore’s broadly applicable P38 Kinase inhibitor technology offers GEn1E the potential to enter the clinic with an acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome therapy
PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 17, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GEn1E Lifesciences Inc. (“GEn1E”), a pre-clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on transforming promising research into therapies for areas of huge unmet medical needs, announced today that it has entered into an exclusive option agreement with the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) to license a patent application entitled "Non-Catalytic Substrate-Selective p38a-Specific MAPK Inhibitors with Endothelial-Stabilizing and Anti-Inflammatory Activity, and Methods of Use Thereof" invented by Paul S. Shapiro, Ph.D. and Alexander D. MacKerell Jr., Ph.D. of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, and Jeffrey D. Hasday, M.D. of the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
The invention is targeted at the treatment of acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (“ALI/ARDS”). Ritu Lal, Ph.D., M.S. (Management), GEn1E's co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, said, “UMB scientists have developed impressive preclinical data in ALI/ARDS animal models, suggesting real potential as a first indication for this invention to help treat patients with ALI/ARDS. This is a rare disease with no therapies approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). ALI/ARDS has a very high mortality rate (40%) and high hospital/ICU costs in hundreds of thousands of dollars per patient.”
“UMB had identified this technology as having great commercial potential and had Life Science IP funding towards the project,” said Phil Robilotto, Chief Commercialization Officer for UM Ventures. “We are therefore particularly excited to see such a rapid external validation through this exciting strategic partnership with GEn1E Lifesciences.” In addition to UM Ventures funding, this project received support from UMB’s Institute for Clinical and Translational Research.
“The University of Maryland, Baltimore’s new generation of selective P38 Kinase inhibitors demonstrate impressive efficacy potentially without the toxicities associated with previous generations of non-selective molecules. This creates the potential for a broad platform of applications in aging and inflammatory diseases”, observed Dr. Lal. She concluded, “We are thrilled to begin work with Dr. Shapiro and Dr. Hasday to bring their invention to the clinic, regulatory approval and commercialization to help treat patients in need.”
About GEn1E Lifesciences
GEn1E Lifesciences Inc. is a pre-clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on transforming promising research into therapies for areas of huge unmet medical needs. www.gen1elifesci.com
About the University of Maryland, Baltimore
The University of Maryland, Baltimore is commercializing breakthrough therapies, diagnostics and devices, fueling the creation of innovative start-up companies, and attracting industry leaders and entrepreneurs to its thriving campus. Founded in 1807 as the first public medical school in the nation, the University is a fast-growing biomedical research center with nationally ranked professional schools of dentistry, law, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, social work, an interdisciplinary graduate school as well as a 1.8 million square foot bio-medical research park. www.umaryland.edu
GEn1E Lifesciences Inc.
www.gen1elifesci.com