Sector(s): Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Life Sciences
About Opportunity:
The Challenge
Corticosteroids are the 2nd most commonly prescribed class of drugs, behind NSAIDs, and are used for a wide range of inflammatory conditions. However, they have numerous side-effects, including adrenal insufficiency (AI), even for low dose corticosteroids. Diagnosing AI is difficult and expensive, and relies on the SynACTHen test, which is not routinely performed, leading to substantial under-diagnosis of AI. Pharmacokinetic monitoring of corticosteroids is unreliable, and no pharmacodynamic test exists to detect corticosteroid side effects. A pharmacodynamic test would also be useful for dose adjustment in patients receiving corticosteroid replacement therapy and for screening in patients with suspected Cushing’s syndrome.
Technology
Seven key biomarkers have been identified from metabolomics screening of patient samples. These biomarkers are measured using standard LC-MS techniques and can provide pharmacodynamic information of corticosteroid over-treatment from patient samples. This allows optimization of the corticosteroid dose regime for each patient, prediction of adverse effects of overtreatment, including adrenal insufficiency, and improvement of the diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome.
Exemplification Data
Using LC-MS metabolomic screening on plasma samples from 117 individuals with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (taking known doses of corticosteroids), the analysis demonstrated a clear cut-off in dose-response relationships, such that the metabolome distinguished doses above or below the equivalent of 5 mg of prednisolone each day (the physiological replacement dose).
The Challenge
Corticosteroids are the 2nd most commonly prescribed class of drugs, behind NSAIDs, and are used for a wide range of inflammatory conditions. However, they have numerous side-effects, including adrenal insufficiency (AI), even for low dose corticosteroids. Diagnosing AI is difficult and expensive, and relies on the SynACTHen test, which is not routinely performed, leading to substantial under-diagnosis of AI. Pharmacokinetic monitoring of corticosteroids is unreliable, and no pharmacodynamic test exists to detect corticosteroid side effects. A pharmacodynamic test would also be useful for dose adjustment in patients receiving corticosteroid replacement therapy and for screening in patients with suspected Cushing’s syndrome.
Technology
Seven key biomarkers have been identified from metabolomics screening of patient samples. These biomarkers are measured using standard LC-MS techniques and can provide pharmacodynamic information of corticosteroid over-treatment from patient samples. This allows optimization of the corticosteroid dose regime for each patient, prediction of adverse effects of overtreatment, including adrenal insufficiency, and improvement of the diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome.
Exemplification Data
Using LC-MS metabolomic screening on plasma samples from 117 individuals with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (taking known doses of corticosteroids), the analysis demonstrated a clear cut-off in dose-response relationships, such that the metabolome distinguished doses above or below the equivalent of 5 mg of prednisolone each day (the physiological replacement dose).
Key Benefits:
- A simple alternative to the relatively insensitive and time-consuming assays currently in use, e.g. SynACTHen test
- Can be developed into a ‘kit assay’ for clinical use
- Ability to carry out testing at most clinical labs due to the common use of LC-MS
Applications:
IP Status: - Medical devices
- Diagnostic assay kit
Early stage laboratory data. Priority filing stage.
Source http://www.university-technology.com/opportunity/685/biomarker-assay-to-enable-safe-corticosteroid-withdrawal
