SBIR-STTR Award

Hypersecretion of mucus into the respiratory airways is a major factor in several lung diseases, including chronic bronchitis, asthma, cystic fibrosis, and bronchiectasis. Despite the obvious medical importance, mechanisms that regulate production and secretion of airway mucus have not been elucidated fully, and, relatedly, there presently are no effective therapies to control excess mucus secretion in disease, and very few potential therapeutic targets. In previous NIH-funded research from the laboratories of the scientific consultants, a key molecule in the secretory pathway in human airway goblet cells was described. This molecule, MARCKS protein (Myristoylated Alanine-Rich C Kinase Substrate) plays a major role in regulating secretion of mucus in well-differentiated human airway epithelial cells in vitro. In the course of these studies, we developed a peptide to inhibit the function of MARCKS. The peptide corresponds to the N-terminal region of the MARCKS molecule. The peptide, named the MANS peptide, inhibits secretion of mucus by normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells in tissue culture in response to exogenous stimulation. A control peptide, consisting of the same N-terminal amino acids, but arranged in random order, has no effect. In the present application, we wish to determine if this peptide, instilled intratracheally into asthmatic mice that secrete excessive amounts of mucus can, similar to its effects in vitro, inhibit mucus secretion in vivo. If successful, these studies will be expanded in Phase II to include additional species, efficacy and toxicity studies, and research to optimize peptide solubility and stability; steps necessary for commercial development. The long-term goal is to develop a novel treatment that reduces mucus hypersecretion in the respiratory tract by directly blocking a step in the intracellular secretory pathway.

Thesaurus Terms:
actin binding protein, asthma, mucin, peptide analog, protein sequence, protein structure function, technology /technique development disease /disorder model, lung lavage, methacholine, ovalbumin, pilocarpine, respiratory pharmacology, respiratory system enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, high performance liquid chromatography, histology, laboratory mouse

Hypersecretion of mucus into the respiratory airways, leading to obstruction and increased morbidity and mortality, is a major factor in several lung diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and cystic fibrosis. There are presently no effective therapies to control excessive mucus secretion in these diseases. In previously published studies, we discovered that a specific protein called MARCKS protein is a key molecule in the mucus secretory pathway. Based on this finding, a novel peptide was discovered, which inhibited mucus hypersecretion in human airway epithelial cells in culture. With financial support from SBIR Phase I grant, BioMarck Pharmaceuticals has extended these studies and confirmed that this novel peptide is an effective inhibitor of mucus hypersecretion in three different animal models when instilled intratracheally. This discovery can potentially lead to a novel and effective therapy to inhibit excessive mucus secretion in a variety of pulmonary diseases. In the present SBIR Phase II proposal, we wish to further develop this peptide in order to support an IND (Investigational New Drug) application to the FDA for possible clinical studies in human volunteers. In this proposal, the Company wishes to accomplish two major objectives. Namely, a) to develop an optimum formulation of the peptide for nebulizer-based targeted lung delivery, and b) to establish the safety of the peptide when delivered by nebulizer to laboratory animals. The series of proposed safety studies are prerequisites for approval of an IND for subsequent human clinical studies. BioMarck's goal is to develop and commercialized a novel, effective, and safe therapeutic agent to satisfy the unmet medical needs for the treatment of mucus hypersecretory diseases like COPD, the 4th leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide