Advantage and Core Benefit

- beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is known to be effective for AKI and other diseases.
- NanoBHB gradually degrades and release BHB and maintain concentration.
- Effect confirmed by AKI, IBD, depression animal models.

Background and Technology

beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), one of the ketone bodies, participates in various signaling pathways (e.g., energy metabolism, inflammation reactions), thereby its supplement brings benefits to the treatment of many diseases; acute kidney injury, inflammatory bowel disease, Alzheimer’s dementia, Parkinson’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, etc. However, BHB is not easy to use in clinical settings because BHB is easily excreted from the body.
To overcome the drawback, the researcher has successfully synthesized prodrug, which is composed of poly BHB and Polyethylene glycol that forms micelles (NanoBHB), biodegradable by endogenous enzyme and sustainably release BHB.

Data

- NanoBHB, not BHB, alleviated symptoms of cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury mice.
- No cytotoxicity observed in in-vitro analysis.

Patents

PCT/JP2024/019499

Researcher

Dr. Yukio Nagasaki (University of Tsukuba)

Expectations

We are seeking companies who are interested in in-licensing and commercialization.
Samples are available under material transfer agreement.