Technologies Available for License : Diagnostics
Assays for Chondrogenesis
Tech ID: 06-93-95
Technology Description:
This technology comprises assays for osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease of the articulating cartilage of joints.
Osteoarthritis affects approximately 30 million adults in the United States and is the most common arthritis of middle-age. The cause of osteoarthritis is unknown; however, the risk of developing osteoarthritis is increased in people who are obese, are athletes, or who have rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is characterized by the massive destruction of cartilage in the weight-bearing joints, particularly the hands, hips, knees and big toes. Current methods of managing osteoarthritis are limited to advanced stages of the disease, when patients experience joint pain and swelling. Anti-inflammatory agents and analgesics, the present treatments for advanced osteoarthritis, do little to slow its progression and may even hasten cartilage breakdown.
X-rays are the most common tool to document late-stage degeneration of the articular cartilage. Detection of osteoarthritis before widespread damage has occurred is clearly desirable. In early-stage osteoarthritis, degeneration of articular cartilage is accompanied by the synthesis of Type IIA collagen to form new cartilage.
Thus, assays for Type IIA procollagen mRNA and protein may provide the means of detecting and monitoring early-stage osteoarthritis.
Advantages:
- Detection of Type IIA collagen mRNA and protein may allow early diagnosis of osteoarthritis and initiation of treatment.
- Effectiveness of drug therapy may be assessed by monitoring Type IIA procollagen levels.
- The tests for Type IIA procollagen do not cross-react with Type IIB procollagen, the precursor of normal adult articular cartilage.
Technology Offer:
The Washington Research Foundation is seeking commercial partners to develop
therapeutics based on the technology. License or option arrangements are
negotiable. US rights to the technology are available.
Patents/Publications:
Washington Research Foundation is seeking qualified partners to develop and market diagnostic kits based on either antibodies or nucleic acid probes to Type IIA procollagen. U.S. patents # 5,541,066 and 5,780,240 claiming methods of detecting Type IIA procollagen protein, propeptide or mRNA have issued.
For additional information, please contact:
Beth G. Etscheid, Ph.D.
Director of Licensing
Washington Research Foundation
2815 Eastlake Avenue E, Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98102
Tel: 206.336.5600
Fax: 206.336.5615
betschei@wrfseattle.org