miRNA Signatures for Pulmonary Hypertension

Reference number 11292

Sectors: Healthcare, Medical Diagnostics

Industries: Biotechnology, Medical Diagnostics

The technology relates to miRNA biomarkers to identify patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), and sub-classify patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromembolic PH (CTEPH).

Proposed use

The present invention concerns a small panel of circulating miRNAs, derived from an unbiased screen of over 600 miRNAs, that help identify PH, and isolate two treatable subtypes of PH from a population of patients at with PH; namely, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thrombolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). It also concerns another panel of miRNAs that can distinguish patients with PAH from CTEPH.  These panels can be used independently or coupled with plasma BNP measurements to enable accurate diagnosis in the patient investigation pathway.

Problem addressed

There is currently no specific blood test for pulmonary hypertension. Only plasma BNP or NT-proBNP are routinely used for prognosis and are non-specific markers of cardiac stress elevated in patients with heart disease irrespective of the presence of PH. This invention offers the prospect of an accessible point of care test for earlier diagnosis and distinguishing subtypes of pulmonary hypertension, allowing patients to be aligned with the correct management pathway. It would empower non-specialists, who at present rely on non-specific tools (e.g. ECG, plasma BNP) to identify patients for referral.

Technology overview

The key features of this technology include:

  • A panel of miRNAs to identify PH and distinguish between subtypes of from a population of patients at risk of the condition, namely PAH and CTEPH.
  • Another panel of miRNAs that can distinguish patients with PAH from CTEPH.

Benefits

  • Accessible point-of-care test for earlier diagnosis of PH.
  • Distinguishes subtypes of PH, allowing for patients to be aligned with the correct management pathway.
  • Empowers non-specialists, who at present rely on non-specific tools, to identify patient for referral.

Development Stage

  • TRL 3

Intellectual property information

An International PCT application (WO2024/089437) has been filed to protect the miRNA panels. The application is entering national phase prosecution.

Inventors

Professor Martin R. Wilkins

Professor of Clinical Pharmacology
National Heart & Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine

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Professor Allan Lawrie

Chair of Pulmonary Vascular Diseases
National Heart & Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine

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Contact us about this technology


Contact

Dr Amritha Nair

Industry Partnerships and Commercialisation Senior Executive, Faculty of Medicine

Dr Amritha Nair is an Industry Partnerships and Commercialisation Senior Executive in the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London. Amritha works across the entire innovation lifecycle from assessment, protection, and management of Intellectual property; marketing of technologies primed for commercialisation and supporting commercialisation via licensing or spinouts. Amritha also supports researchers in their bids for access to translational funding. Amritha manages an extensive IP portfolio, mainly focussed on therapeutics and diagnostics. Prior roles include innovation consulting for small and medium enterprises and handling the drug development and start-up activities for a private equity backed life science development group in Houston, USA. Amritha has a PhD in Molecular and Human Genetics from Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA and a MSc in Human Genetics from Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, India.

Contact Amritha

[email protected]

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