Use of metabolic drugs to treat influenza infection (SJ-14-0040)

St. Jude Reference #SJ-14-0040

Description

Influenza infection is a worldwide health and financial burden posing a significant risk to the immune-compromised, obese, diabetic, elderly, and pediatric populations. We identified increases in metabolism in the lungs of immune-compromised patients infected with respiratory pathogens. Using quantitative mass spectrometry we found metabolic changes occurring after influenza infection in primary human respiratory cells, and defined the molecular underpinnings of these changes. We developed a metabolic drug screen and high-throughput titer on human respiratory cells to identify potential drugs targets. Several targets were identified that had efficacy in vitro and/or in vivo. There remains a need for methods of treating viral infections (i.e., influenza viral infection) via alternative methods that are less likely to generate viral escape. Here we propose that metabolic pathways are an outstanding host target that the virus cannot easily escape from, that viral infection results in metabolic reprogramming of host cells, and thus that metabolic targets are ideal for therapeutic intervention.

Researchers at St. Jude have invented a way to treat viral infections using known drugs or combinations of drugs, based on specific structures, in appropriate amounts, with pharmaceutical salts, and/or antiviral agent, and/or an agent to weaken the immune system; and a carrier. They have also invented kits comprising the same.

Keywords

Influenza, drug combination, viral , anti-viral, respiratory, immune, SARs, COVID

Granted patents or published applications

Issued US Patent 11,083,725; and pending US patent application published as 2021/0299118

Related scientific references

Smallwood et al., 2017, Cell Reports 19, 1–14, May 23, 2017 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2017.04.039

An article, “A new strategy reported to combat influenza and speed recovery” further describing the Cell Reports publication is on the St. Jude website: https://www.stjude.org/media-resources/news-releases/2017-medicine-science-news/new-strategy-reported-to-combat-influenza-and-speed-recovery.html

Licensing opportunities

We are seeking a partner interested in licensing and developing this technology.
Contact: chad.riggs@stjude.org

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