PhD Scientific Days 2023

KDP Poster session

Developing Selective Kv1.3 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases

Előadó neve

Szekér, Patrik, MSc

Neptun code

JMKJS9

Előadó munkahelye

VRG Therapeutics Kft

Előadó telefonszáma

+36302630744

Előadó e-mail címe

patrik.szeker@vrgtherapeutics.com

Az előadás címe

Developing Selective Kv1.3 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases

Szerző(k) neve és munkahelye

Patrik Szekér1, Péter Hornyák1, Anna Hajdara1, Norbert Gyöngyösi2, Zalán Péterfi1
1 VRG Therapeutics Kft, Budapest
2 Semmelweis University, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department of Molecular Biology, Budapest

Bemutatás módja

Poszter

Szekció

KDP Poster session

Language of the presentation

English

Preferred session

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Összefoglaló szövege

Autoimmune diseases can be regarded as an increasingly significant public health issue of our time. Despite recent advances in diagnostics and disease management, patients still suffer from disabling symptoms and significant complications. Present treatment for autoimmune diseases are based on non-specific immunosuppression which can result in serious side effects. Many patients are unsatisfied with the current standard of care, therefore, there is a pressing need for new, less immunogenic, and more specific immunomodulators providing safe and effective treatment of autoimmune diseases.
Kv1.3 and KCa3.1 ion channels are differentially expressed in T cell subtypes which allows selective pharmacological modulation of T cell responses. Overactive and autoreactive T cells contributing to the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases are mainly effector memory T (TEM) cells with elevated Kv1.3 expression levels. Selective pharmacological inhibition of Kv1.3 was proven to treat diverse autoimmune diseases in animal models, without compromising the protective immune response provided by other T cells. Therefor our aim was to develop a Kv1.3 blocker miniprotein with exceptional selectivity for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
Our phage-display based screening system exploits the diversity of animal toxins-based phage libraries combined with the power of deep sequencing to identify promising drug candidates. VRGT’s “Designer Miniprotein” technology enabled to identify lead candidates with high affinity and selectivity for the Kv1.3 potassium channel.
VRGT’s patentable lead molecule (VRG-K1) is a high affinity, extremely selective Kv1.3 channel inhibitor that can exert a highly specific therapeutic result with minimal side effects.
VRG-K1 was effective in ex vivo proof-of-concept experiments where it effectively prevented the activation of TEM cells. This promises a better safety profile and lower toxicity compared to small molecules and lower immunogenicity compared to large biologics. Our lead compound is currently in the preclinical development phase.
The research was founded by the National Research, Development and Innovation (NRDI) Office under the grant ID 2019-1.1.1-MARKET-KFI-2019-00127 and by the Cooperative Doctoral Programme-2020 managed by the Ministry for Innovation and Technology (ITM).

University and Doctoral School

Semmelweis University, Doctoral School of Molecular Medicine

Supervisor

Norbert Gyöngyösi

Publication of my abstract

I do not give consent to the publication of my abstract on the website of the congress.

Kind

Szabad

Status

elfogadva

Accepted presentation method

poszter

Előadás fájl jóváhagyás

nem rendelkezett róla

Előadó

7447

Start

09:48

End

09:53

Authors (legacy)

Patrik Szekér1, Péter Hornyák1, Anna Hajdara1, Norbert Gyöngyösi2, Zalán Péterfi1
1 VRG Therapeutics Kft, Budapest
2 Semmelweis University, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department of Molecular Biology, Budapest