Anti-IFNg DNA aptamer for Hunner Type Interstitial Cystitis

Abstract

There is no widely accepted definition for Interstitial cystitis (IC)/bladder pain syndrome (BPS) and very few effective diagnostic biomarkers. Chizuko Koseki is combining her deep knowledge of both urology and nucleic acid/oligonucleotides to develop innovative treatments for Hunner-type IC (HIC). Patients with IC/BPS are classified as either HIC, presenting with a specific Hunner lesion, or BPS presenting without Hunner lesion. There is a distinct lack of treatments, with only one approved drug; 50% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as intravesical instillation therapy, with the drug put directly into the bladder. An important study enabled scientists to surmise that HIC is a distinct inflammatory disorder that is characterised by pancystitis with an increase in plasma cells and frequent expansion of clonal B-cells, and epithelial denudation. Koseki is the CEO of TAGCyx Biotechnologies, a pre-clinical stage drug development company based in Komaba Open Laboratory, The University of Tokyo, Japan focused on developing novel nucleic acid-based drugs for therapeutic applications. The company focuses on: autoimmune disease; women's disease; apheresis; thrombosis; and chronic kidney disease. Oligonucleotides are key to Koseki's work; she is using the advantages and characteristics of single strand DNA oligonucleotides to develop some focused disease areas, such as autoimmune diseases, topical applications and women's diseases. The team has established a technology platform called Xenoligo® that can screen and stabilise drug candidates utilising oligonucleotide drug discovery. The platform can generate highly potent and efficacious single strand DNA aptamers. Interstitial cystitis, IC, bladder pain syndrome, BPS, urology, nucleic acid, oligonucleotides, Hunner-type IC, HIC, TAGCyx Biotechnologies, autoimmune disease, women's disease, apheresis, thrombosis, chronic kidney disease, oligonucleotide drug discovery, DNA aptamers.