Conjugated linoleic acid therapy for Prader-Willi Syndrome
This technology uses conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) — a naturally occurring fatty acid found in dairy and meat — as a treatment for rare genetic conditions caused by a missing or defective gene region called Snord116, most notably Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), as well as a related hormonal disorder called Nhlh2-associated hypogonadism. PWS causes severe obesity, intellectual disability, and hormonal dysregulation, and currently has no approved disease-modifying treatment. The invention claims that administering CLA in specific formulations can address symptoms or underlying mechanisms of these conditions. Because CLA is already a well-known dietary supplement with an established safety profile, the regulatory pathway to clinical use could be shorter than for entirely novel compounds.
What you could build
A pharmaceutical-grade CLA formulation (oral supplement or medical food) targeting PWS patients and potentially those with hypogonadism due to Nhlh2 deficiency; buyers would be rare disease pharma companies, medical food manufacturers, and potentially patient advocacy-aligned licensing partners focused on the PWS market.
Who in Virginia should care
Rare disease biotech startups or licensing arms connected to Virginia academic medical centers, or companies in the Northern Virginia/DC life sciences corridor pursuing orphan drug designations.
Readiness: Concept
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Deborah J. Good
- Filed
- Patent pending — filed November 3, 2023
- Status
- Application
- Publication number
- US20240238237A1
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.