Preventing Organ Damage from Stroke: New Breakthrough
A team of researchers from Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) Faculty of Science and the HUN-REN Research Center for Natural Sciences has made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of medicine. They have developed a unique drug, known as EVO24L, that protects the body from damage following oxygen deprivation in cases such as organ transplants, heart attacks, and strokes.
The researchers, under the leadership of Gábor Pál and Péter Gál, founded EvolVeritas to work on this innovative project. Through the directed evolution of a human protein, they were able to create EVO24L, which prevents organ damage caused by lack of oxygen.
When an organ is deprived of oxygen due to a blocked blood vessel, cells send emergency signals to the surface. These distress signals can trigger inflammation and lead to life-threatening organ damage. However, EVO24L works by providing a cover for the active site of MASP-2, a protein involved in the inflammatory response, thus preventing the destructive effects of inflammation.
The efficacy of EVO24L was tested in an animal model designed to simulate organ damage following kidney transplantation. The results showed that animals treated with EVO24L maintained kidney function and tissue integrity, while placebo-treated animals suffered from renal failure.
This groundbreaking discovery has attracted the attention of pharmaceutical companies worldwide. A spin-off company, established by the inventors, is currently working on developing ultra-selective agents that can inhibit inflammation and viral infections. The research findings have been published in the prestigious journal of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, PNAS.
This innovative drug has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of conditions involving oxygen deprivation and inflammation, offering hope for patients in need of organ transplants or suffering from heart attacks and strokes. The collaboration between ELTE and HUN-REN has paved the way for further advancements in the field of medical research, with the potential to benefit both pharmaceutical and agricultural industries.
