RapidAging™

Currently available animal models of human brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s disease) generally suffer from three shortcomings -

·  They produce only limited aspects of a complex phenomenon;

·  They lack the regional variations in age-related pathologies;

·  They require extended periods of time.

The RapidAging™ technologies address these challenges. The application of in vitro brain slice techniques to the problems of aging proved to be a key event in the evolution of the system. These slices are prepared from almost any part of the rodent brain in the second post-natal week, a time at which major circuitries and cell types have already been established. Given two weeks in culture, the slices take on a broad range of characteristics found only in the adult. It is not surprising, then, that with the proper manipulations they can also express characteristic features of the aged brain. RapidAging thus provides the speed and simplicity of in vitro methods but does so without giving up the neurobiological complexity of the mature brain.        

RapidAging is the first system of its kind for testing anti-neurodegenerative drugs directly against primary pathologies, including neurofibrillary tangles, amyloid toxicity, inflammatory reactions, microglial activation and others. Thuris' proprietary RapidAging system creates these hallmarks of various neurodegenerative disorders, including Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's disease, in just three to six days, enabling the rapid, precise testing of drug candidates against any or all of these targets - chronically or acutely.  Thuris has entered into partnerships with multiple companies on the basis of these broad and novel models.

RapidAging™: TANGLES.

Neurofibrillary tangles are filamentous pathologies that develop inside neurons during Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). They are almost certainly a primary cause of the functional disturbances that characterize these age-related diseases. Thuris has developed a first rapid screening system for drugs that block tangles. Using this proprietary technology, the Company has succeeded in identifying potential therapeutics. Thuris is engaged with multiple corporate partners to pursue these novel approaches to treating MCI and AD.

Collaboration. Cephalon Corporation.

RapidAging™: INFLAMMATION.

Tangles and amyloid generate a brain inflammatory response that in many respects resembles that found in the body during many commonplace illnesses. Unfortunately, the brain’s inflammatory response may be toxic for neurons. Thuris’ technologies generate inflammatory reactions resembling those associated with AD and MCI and the Company is exploiting this to develop modulatory therapeutics. A two-pronged strategy is being pursued. First, experimental agents that block key steps in the inflammatory cascade are being studied as potential drugs. Second, novel combinations of compounds that are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) are being tested for synergistic anti-inflammatory effects.  Such combinations could be marketed without FDA involvement.

            Collaborations. Sigma-Tau Corporation; D-Pharm.

RapidAging™: AMYLOID TOXICITY.

A second cardinal feature of AD involves the accumulation of amyloid peptides. Thuris has used recent discoveries about the entry of the peptides into neurons to build a novel system for studying amyloid-induced toxicity. The Company is now testing compounds that prevent amyloid from forming intracellular deposits, a significant therapeutic focus of the pharmaceutical industry.

Collaboration. Praecis, Inc.