Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery (Discontinued) - Volume 9, Issue 1, 2014

Gliomas are the most common and malignant primary brain tumors in the adult population. Despite the intensive research on cancer pathology, real mechanisms concerning glioma progression are not completely understood. The prognosis in patients affected by malignant gliomas is still very unfavorable. Recent genomic analyses have revealed patterns of molecular changes within tumor subclasses that harbor distinct underlying biology, clinical prognosis, and pathogenic routes. So, novel treatments will have to be able to interfere at different molecular levels in gliomagenesis minimizing the toxicity. In particular, antisense oligonucleotides are able to inhibit expression of specific genes by interfering with transcription or, more usually, with translation. In this review, we will focus on mechanisms of antisense oligonucleotides reporting clinical and experimental studies. We will also report a large number of patents which adopt the antisense oligonucleotides as potential therapeutic approach in gliomas treatment.

Increasing evidence suggests a close relationship between the endocannabinoid system and schizophrenia. The endocannabinoid system comprises of two G protein-coupled receptors (the cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 [CB1 and CB2] for marijuana's psychoactive principle Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol), their endogenous small lipid ligands (namely anandamide [AEA] and 2-arachidonoylglycerol [2-AG], also known as endocannabinoids), and proteins for endocannabinoid biosynthesis and degradation. It has been suggested to be a pro-homeostatic and pleiotropic signalling system activated in a time- and tissue-specific manner during pathophysiological conditions. In the brain, activation of this system impacts the release of numerous neurotransmitters in various systems and cytokines from glial cells. Hence, the endocannabinoid system is strongly involved in neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia. Therefore, adolescence use of Cannabis may alter the endocannabinoid signalling and pose a potential environmental risk to develop psychosis. Consistently, preclinical and clinical studies have found a dysregulation in the endocannabinoid system such as changed expression of CB1 and CB2 receptors or altered levels of AEA and 2-AG . Thus, due to the partial efficacy of actual antipsychotics, compounds which modulate this system may provide a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of schizophrenia. The present article reviews current available knowledge on herbal, synthetic and endogenous cannabinoids with respect to the modulation of schizophrenic symptomatology. Furthermore, this review will be highlighting the therapeutic potential of cannabinoid-related compounds and presenting some promising patents targeting potential treatment options for schizophrenia.

About 15% of people in the world suffer migraine attacks. Migraine can induce a great impact in the quality of life, and the costs of medical care and loss of productivity can be also high. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the best treatment in mild-to-moderate migraine attacks and triptans are the first line option in the acute treatment of moderate-to-severe migraine attacks. At present, there are seven marketed triptans: sumatriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitriptan, eletriptan, naratriptan, almotriptan and frovatriptan. Obviously, every drug presents different pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics properties and, moreover, some triptans have several formulations. The prescription of one of these seven triptans for a specified patient is based in the drug profile: efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Other data to take account in the final prescription are clinical characteristics of the migraine attack (speed of onset, intensity of pain, lasting of the attack) and patient characteristics as working habits, life style or medical history. It is therefore mandatory to perform an individualization of the treatment of migraine attack. In recent years, several new patents of drugs have been registered in the treatment of migraine attack, although most of these are already known drugs that only provide new routes of administration. We present an update on the treatment of the migraine attack

Neurogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) can be broadly defined as an inability to sustain or maintain a penile erection owing to a neurological impairment, either centrally or peripherally or both. Although significant advances in the pharmacological treatment of ED have occurred in recent years, especially after the introduction of oral selective phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, the treatment of neurological patients with ED may be challenging for prescribers, given poor data available on this topic and the variety of etiologic factors (iatrogenic, endocrine, psychiatric and psychosocial) to consider. At the same time, several, new oral, local and surgical treatments are available and their efficacy and safety depend on the specific cases. This review provides a comprehensive and updated description of current and future ED therapies, including assigned patents, with a special focus on the treatment of neurogenic erectile dysfunction.

The association between diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases is increasing with aging. Several common mechanisms are involved in both these diseases. The endothelial cells of the blood brain barrier, neurons and glia express typical and different receptors of the glucose metabolism (glucose transporters, insulin receptors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors). The impairment in insulin signaling leads to an impairment of neuronal function and increases neurodegeneration, and, conversely, neurodegeneration causes a reduction of insulin signaling on neurons. Increased detailed knowledge of common physiological processes opens up the opportunities for developing new treatments that may prevent or reduce the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of the review is to discuss the potential neuroprotective effects of the antidiabetic drugs. The article presents somepromising patents on the treatment of insulin resistance in the neurodegeneration.