• Therapeutics >

Methods For Accurately Measuring And Regulating Adrenomedullin

Background:
The National Cancer Institute's Angiogenesis Core Facility is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize methods to detect or regulate adrenomedullin (AM) levels. The technology provides methods for diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as cancer and diabetes that are influenced by AM levels.

Technology:
Adrenomedullin (AM) is a ubiquitously-expressed peptide with numerous important functions.  AM functions as a universal autocrine growth factor, as a vasodilator, as a mechanism for protecting cells against oxidative stress in hypoxic injury, and as a dose-dependent inhibitor of insulin secretion.  Methods for accurately measuring and regulating in vivo levels of AM may be critically important in the diagnosis and treatment of many conditions, such as heart disease, pulmonary disease, liver cirrhosis, cancer, diabetes, sepsis, and inflammation.

The present technology centers on the observation that AM binds to Complement Factor H (CFH) in vivo.  Without a means to determine the amount of AM that is bound to CFH, measurements of AM are inaccurate.  This technology describes methods to identify and isolate the AM-CFH complex.  Antibodies and small-molecule antagonists that are able to regulate bioavailable AM levels have been isolated.  Also described are methods for measuring and utilizing purified AM-binding proteins to diagnose, treat, and monitor AM-related diseases. 
   
Further R&D Needed:

• Develop or identify compounds (small molecules or antibodies) that will selectively disrupt the formation of the AM/AMP1 complex. 
• Develop or identify compounds that will distinguish free from AM bound AMP1 via RIA, WB or IHC.
• Determine what, if any, is the clinical correlation between levels of AM/AMP1 serum complexes and disease states.

• Ability to measure adrenomedullin more accurately than current tests
• Ability to regulate bioavailable levels of AM
• Potential to diagnose and treat AM-related diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease
  

This opportunity is also listed under the following categories:

• Diagnostics