Design of the first ApoE-mimetic Drugs to regulate Macrophage Function
We are also exploiting these findings to design apoE mimetic compounds which have the same effects on macrophage population dynamics as the in tact apoE protein. It is our hope that these compounds might one day provide a new therapeutic option for the prevention of diseases associated with particular genotypes at the apoE locus. We are utilising the same approach which yield the peptide Chemotides, and ultimately the small molecule non-peptide derivatives such as BN 83253. Although in their early stages, the results from these studies are encouraging: and we have a lead peptide apoE mimetic and a detailed structure:function analysis is already underway. It is hoped that the first small moilecule apoE mimetics will be synthesised and tested early in 2005, although we are still a long way from determining whether thay have any beneficial impact on disease progression in animal models of apoE-deficiency.