The ability to develop novel recombinant proteins able to deliver a clostridial neurotoxin protease into a cell of choice and thereby inhibit vesicle fusion and secretion from the selected target cell with a prolonged duration of action opens up a wide range of opportunities to develop novel proteins of therapeutic potential for the treatment of a wide variety of chronic diseases.
Syntaxin has already exemplified the technology for inhibition of neurotransmitter release from peripheral pain nerves, developing molecules with analgesic activity in established models of pain and the potential for development as long acting analgesics for the relief of chronic pain. This opportunity has been licensed to Allergan Inc. and a candidate is expected to be in clinical trial in the near future.
Syntaxin has also developed proteins using its technology for inhibiting mucus release from airway epithelial cells. These have the potential to block the mucus hypersecretion that contributes to the impairment of respiratory function in chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, cystic fibrosis and chronic bronchitis and COPD. Again these novel proteins have been shown to be effective in models and Syntaxin is currently taking a lead candidate from this programme forward for clinical development and proof of concept.
Long term therapeutic benefits
In addition to these applications, Syntaxin has demonstrated the effectiveness of its technology to produce proteins able to block secretion from a wide range of neuroendocrine and endocrine cells involved in a variety of metabolic and endocrine disorders, including endocrine tumours and obesity.
If you are interested in collaborating with Syntaxin to explore the unique therapeutic benefits of our technology, please contact us