Application

Metabolic syndrome is a disease state where a combination of diabetes, hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, and fatty liver exists. To date, there is no effective pharmacological treatment for the prevention and treatment of this syndrome.

Our Innovation

  • Discovery that an enzyme previously known to be involved in blood pressure regulation is upregulated in the blood and various tissues following consumption of a high-fat diet.
  • Experiments in mice lacking this enzyme demonstrate their resistance to the development of obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver diseases.
  • Using a non-specific blocker of this enzyme (that is an approved drug) in obese mice reduces their body weight, fat mass, and total cholesterol, improves glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, increases total energy expenditure, and improves liver function and steatosis.
  • These findings suggest that blockade of the enzyme has a therapeutic potential in treating metabolic syndrome.
  • The enzyme is also a diagnostic marker for fatty liver disease, that has no known good circulating marker.

Advantages

  • Targeted treatment: Unlike other treatments for fatty liver disease, diabetes, and metabolic disorders, blockade of the enzyme specifically targets the underlying metabolic defects that contribute to these conditions.
  • Multi-faceted benefits: This treatment approach has been shown to improve multiple aspects of metabolic health, including reducing liver fat accumulation, improving insulin sensitivity, and reducing dyslipidemia and diabetes.
  • Versatile: This treatment approach can be used to treat not only fatty liver disease and diabetes but also other metabolic disorders, making it a valuable tool in the fight against these conditions.

Opportunity

  • Blockade of the enzyme represents a new and exciting approach to treating fatty liver disease, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and other metabolic disorders. Its targeted mechanism of action, multi-faceted benefits, and versatility make it a promising option for patients and a valuable tool in the fight against these devastating conditions.
  • Blockage may be done by repurposing existing drugs or developing new chemical entities.
  • This novel approach could also be used for fatty liver disease diagnosis.