Autoimmune disease

Mouse studies suggest inhibiting DGAT1 could help treat MS. In the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model of MS, levels of DGAT1 were higher in CD4⁺ T cells from the CNS than in CD4⁺ T cells from lymph nodes of the model or the CNS of normal mice. Also in the model, systemic knockout of DGAT1 or a tool compound DGAT1 inhibitor decreased clinical disease scores compared with normal DGAT1 expression or vehicle, respectively, and DGAT1 knockout decreased inflammation in the CNS and demyelination in the spinal cord. Next steps include testing undisclosed small molecule DGAT1 inhibitors in models of MS.

GlaxoSmithKline plc and Boston Pharmaceuticals Inc. have GSK3008356, a small molecule inhibitor of DGAT1, in Phase I testing for acne...