Cell Therapeutics awarded research grant.SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 19, 1996--Cell Therapeutics Inc. (cti), a Seattle-based biopharmaceutical company announced today that it had been awarded a Small Business Technology Transfer Grant by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is a part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The NINDS conducts and supports research on brain and nervous system disorders. Created by the U.S. . The title of the study funded by the grant is "The Effect of Phosphatidic Acid phosphatidic acid: see phospholipid. Inhibitors on Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis encephalomyelitis /en·ceph·a·lo·my·eli·tis/ (en-sef?ah-lo-mi?e-li´tis) inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (EAE EAE 1. experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. 2. enzootic abortion of ewes. )." Principal Investigator for the study is Glenn C. Rice, PhD, Director, Strategic Technical Development at cti. The study is being conducted in collaboration with Subramaniam Sriram, MD, Professor of Neurology and Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic and Research Center at Vanderbilt University. This grant will enable the study of the molecular mechanisms and effects of novel anti-inflammatory agents developed by cti on auto-immune demyelinating disease de·my·e·lin·at·ing disease n. Any of a group of diseases of unknown cause in which there is extensive loss of the myelin sheaths of nerve fibers, as in multiple sclerosis. of the central nervous system (CNS See Continuous net settlement. CNS See continuous net settlement (CNS). ). The prototype human demyelinating disease is Multiple Sclerosis (MS), an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the CNS. This disease affects young adults at the peak of their productive years, leaving them disabled. The majority of patients become wheel-chair bound 10-15 years after the initial onset of symptoms. Thus far, no drug has been developed that offers a cure for MS. Cti has recently developed several classes of small-molecule compounds that are believed to be potent inhibitors of the cellular signaling pathways involved in the activation of transcription factors responsible for the production of multiple inflammatory cytokines Cytokines Chemicals made by the cells that act on other cells to stimulate or inhibit their function. Cytokines that stimulate growth are called "growth factors. . These cytokines are proteins that act as mediators in the generation of immune responses like those involved in MS. Preliminary laboratory data on the cti inhibitors show high protective activity in murine murine /mu·rine/ (mur´en) pertaining to, derived from, or characteristic of mice or rats. mu·rine adj. (mouse) EAE models. Further optimization and development of these compounds may result in a new understanding of the signaling events associated with immune activation and disease progression. Such understanding may lead to clinical studies using new classes of cell signaling inhibitors to treat patients afflicted with MS and other forms of inflammatory diseases of the CNS. Cell Therapeutics Inc. is a Seattle-based biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development of a new class of drugs that seeks to selectively regulate the metabolism of phospholipids in intracellular signaling pathways relevant to cancer and immune and inflammatory diseases. CONTACT: Cell Therapeutics Inc. Lee M. Parker, 206/282-7100 lparker@ctiseattle.com |
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