Abstract:
Invention
Dr. Charalabos Pothoulakis and Dr. Christos Mantzoros have discovered that the hormone ghrelin plays a role in the intestinal inflammation that is associated with inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. More specifically, our investigators have data to support the concept that inhibiting ghrelin’s actions through antagonism of the interaction with its receptor will lead towards methods of treating these diseases.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is seeking a corporate partner to license and commercialize
this technology.
Background
Inflammatory Bowel Disorder (IBD) refers to two chronic intestinal disorders, namely Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. IBD is characterized by persistent abdominal pain, bowel sores, diarrhea, fever, intestinal bleeding and weight loss. The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America estimates that up to one million people in the United States have IBD, resulting in approximately 700,000 physician visits and 100,000 hospitalizations per year. The cause of IBD remains unknown.
The disease occurs throughout the world, but is more prevalent in North America and northern Europe than in central Europe, the Middle East and Australia. The occurrence is IBD is relatively low in Asia and Africa. Individuals who are most frequently diagnosed with IBD are between the ages of 15-25, or 45-55. In addition, there appears to be a higher risk of developing IBD for children and other close relatives of people with IBD. Unfortunately, it is unclear if the higher risk of developing IBD is due to a genetic pre-disposition or due to shared environmental conditions.
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Commercial Opportunity:
The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America estimates that up to one million people in the United States have IBD, resulting in approximately 700,000 physician visits and 100,000 hospitalizations per year. The cause of IBD remains unknown.
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