Autoimmune disease

Mouse studies suggest inhibiting PP2A could help treat MS. In the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model of MS, T cell-specific knockout of PP2A or the terpenoid toxin cantharidin, which inhibits PP2A, decreased clinical disease scores, inflammatory cell infiltration in the CNS and demyelination in the brain and spinal cord compared with normal expression or vehicle, respectively. Next steps could include testing PP2A inhibition in models of other autoimmune diseases.

Lixte Biotechnology Holdings Inc. has LB-100, a small molecule PP2A inhibitor, in Phase I/II testing for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), Phase I testing for brain cancer and advanced solid tumors and preclinical testing for leukemia and depression...