BioCentury
ARTICLE | Targets & Mechanisms

A third way for lysosomal treatments

February 28, 2008 8:00 AM UTC

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have found that generic small-molecule calcium channel blockers for hypertension can restore enzyme function in lysosomal storage disorders. But human testing is needed to determine how they fit in with the expensive therapies used to treat these disorders.

In their research, reported in PLoS Biology, the Scripps team shows that diltiazem and verapamil, two generic small-molecule calcium channel blockers, partially restore enzyme function in three different lysosomal storage disorder (LSD) cell lines by altering cellular calcium levels.1...