Pitt Innovators Issued 8 Patents in February 2022

Pitt innovators were issued 8 U.S. patents in February 2022.

Featured patent: 11,242,339  “Chemical Inhibition of the E3 Ligase Subunit FBX07 Confers Neuroprotection and Anti-Inflammatory Activity by Stabilizing Mitochondria”

The Pink1 protein keeps cells healthy by regulating mitochondrial homeostasis and counteracting oxidative stress.Loss of function mutations in the Pink1 gene causes mitochondrial dysfunction and an early onset familial form of Parkinson’s disease.

No drugs on the market target this particular protein. Pitt innovators led by Charlene Chu, professor of pathology, have identified a ligase that targets the Pink 1 protein and prevents its degradation. This innovation has potential applications in preventing and treating Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s diseases, stroke and fronto-temporal dementia, as well as inflammatory disorders such as asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, and more.

For more information on this technology, including licensing, contact Maria Vanegas at mvanegas@innovation.pitt.edu.

Below is a listing of all patents issued to Pitt innovators in January 2022. Or see a listing of all Pitt technologies available for licensing.