Professor Takaaki Abe of Tohoku University, Professor Kenichiro Hayashi of Okayama University, Professor Hitoshi Kosaka of Jichi Medical University, and Professor Kazuto Nakata of University of Tsukuba have developed compounds that have the effect of suppressing the progression of mitochondrial disease, which is an intractable disease.As soon as the safety is confirmed, we plan to enter clinical trials for patients with mitochondrial disease.
A group at Tohoku University, who was analyzing blood substances in patients with uremia, discovered that some of the endogenous compounds have the effect of enhancing ATP production.Furthermore, when it was administered to cells of mitochondrial disease patients to investigate which compound had the effect, it was found that ATP was produced when the compound called MA-5 was administered.Furthermore, when administered to mice with mitochondrial disease as well as cells, it was confirmed that the life could be visibly extended.This achievement may lead to a therapeutic drug for mitochondrial disease for which there has been no cure.
MA-5 has already entered the test to confirm safety, and domestic and international patent applications have been completed.As a new drug originating in Japan, it will greatly contribute to the development of the medical and medical industry.In addition, mitochondrial dysfunction is also associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, etc., so therapeutic effects on these diseases can be expected.
