BioMotiv, Optikira LLC, UCSF, University of Washington endocrine/metabolic, ophthalmic news
Drug development accelerator BioMotiv and the universities launched newco Optikira to develop small molecules to prevent cell death in diseases caused by misfolded or unfolded proteins. Optikira holds an exclusive license to IP developed at the two universities. Optikira is developing small molecule inhibitors of endoplasmic reticulum to nucleus signaling 1 ( ERN1; IRE1), which the newco calls kinase-inhibiting RNase attenuators (KIRAs). In preclinical models of retinitis pigmentosa and diabetes, KIRAs protected cells from degeneration.
Optikira’s scientific co-founders received a grant from the Harrington Project for Discovery & Development, a $250 million life sciences initiative centered at University Hospitals in Cleveland. BioMotiv is the project’s for-profit accelerator. ...