A USC researcher is launching a biopharmaceutical startup with university support to develop a drug to slow premature aging and arthritis in dogs.
Denis Evseenkoprofessor of orthopedic surgery, stem cell research and regenerative medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, leads efforts to develop non-opioid pain relief and joint preservation for family members on all fours.
“Breeds like Labradors and Golden Retrievers become like family. They live 10 or 12 years, but at 7 or 8 years old they get arthritis and have difficulty moving,” Evseenko said. “Twenty years ago, it was very rare for dog owners to treat chronic illnesses in their pets, but the culture has changed. Today, people treat cancer in dogs and operate on them. There is also a huge unmet need for the treatment of arthritis in animals.
Canine arthritis: common in dogs
Arthritis is extremely common in dogs, affecting up to 25 percent, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The startup, called ReParris, aims to develop a therapeutic approach for animals and humans based on the results of the research reported by Evseenko and his team in Scientific translational medicine earlier this year.
The drug ReParris is a chemical compound that targets a molecular pathway that normally signals when antibodies or immune cells should attack diseased cells infected with a virus or infection. Studies in animal models suggest that the drug may block one of the receptor’s signaling cascades, thereby disrupting the excessively activated long-lasting inflammatory response in the immune system. phagocytes in subjects suffering from osteoarthritis.
Benefits of Arthritis Medication in Dogs
Evseenko’s research found that the chemical compound prevented low-grade systemic inflammation, reduced pain and increased activity in a mouse model of osteoarthritis; Additionally, the drug appeared to promote tissue regeneration rather than scarring and slow premature aging in animals.
If we can extend their healthy lives, that’s huge. It’s the Holy Grail.
Denis EvseenkoKeck School of Medicine
Delivered in pill form, the drug has the potential to prolong life by reducing chronic systemic inflammation related to aging and also reducing chronic musculoskeletal pain.
“Pain is often the reason people have their pets euthanized,” Evseenko said. “If we can prolong their healthy lives, that’s huge.” It’s the Holy Grail. Our ultimate goal is to use this experience in veterinary medicine to develop a therapy that can ultimately slow premature aging in human patients.
ReParris co-founders include R. Rex Parris, an attorney and mayor of Lancaster, California, who supports longevity research at USC; and Anja Skodda, CEO of HappyBond, a pet healthcare company.