SBIR
Success in North Carolina - Cognosci
Cognosci has discovered a way to harness the therapeutic potential of apolipoprotein-E or apoE, a protein that is naturally produced in healthy people. Originally, apoE protein was thought to regulate cholesterol and fat metabolism, but it is now very clear that apoE also acts to reduce inflammation. The body uses inflammation as its first response to injury or disease, however, intense short episodes of (acute) inflammation or prolonged (chronic) inflammation both result in significant damage to normal healthy tissue when improperly controlled. Cognosci actively strives to develop and commercialize its anti-inflammatory drugs that mimic the apoE protein as an effective way to treat acute and chronic inflammatory diseases.
To find the best anti-inflammatories and improve the likelihood of finding compounds that will perform in humans, Cognosci employs a progressive drug-screening cascade. In our approach, genetic data must be available to show that the apolipoprotein-E gene is directly involved, or is a significant risk factor for the presence and evolution of the disease. Cognosci then uses cellular and organismal models of these genetically validated human disease targets to rapidly test its "COG" compounds that mimic the apoE protein. COG compounds that reduce the inflammation and severity of illness in these models of human disease become pharmacogenomically validated development candidates for human clinical trials.
In national competitions where panels of experts judge and rank proposals based on scientific rigor, innovation, significance, and potential benefit to the public health, Cognosci's scientists have received over a dozen SBIR awards to date and several new Phase 1 and Phase 2 SBIR awards. Each of these SBIR grants has permitted the discovery of novel COG compounds and their validation in models of human disease. The most recent awards include support of enhancement strategies designed to improve COG compound performance in a model of traumatic brain injury. Support was also granted for exploratory research to determine the efficacy of COG compounds in models of multiple sclerosis and of human arthritis in collaboration with physicians at Duke, University of Rochester, Georgetown and UNC-Chapel Hill. Funding of these pharmaceutical research and development efforts is absolutely essential for entry into human clinical trials, for future private investments and for partnerships with Cognosci.
Cognosci currently employs 7 scientists
and a medley of individual experts to power its drug finding and development
efforts. Founded in 2000 by Dr. Michael P. Vitek, who is also a faculty member
of Duke University Medical Center, Cognosci has created a unique funding framework
with the help and advice of local and national agents. As one of 32 incubators
in North Carolina, the First Flight Venture Center has housed and advised
research and business operations for Cognosci. The NC Small Business Technology
and Development Center continues to provide important information that allows
scientists to develop and maintain a successful entrepreneurial business.
Although Cognosci continues to advance toward private funding/partnerships,
current support of the company derives from the Department of State, the Department
of Energy and the National Institutes of Health's Small Business Innovation
Research grants programs.