Cold Harbor JV developing copper chelator for Wilson's disease

DepYmed Inc., a joint venture between Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Ohr Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:OHRP), is developing its protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP-1B; PTPN1) inhibitor DPM-1001 as a copper chelator for Wilson's disease. In a Genes & Development study, Cold Spring Harbor researchers showed the compound reduced disease-associated copper levels and cell damage.

Wilson's disease is characterized by liver and brain deficits from accumulation of copper caused by mutations in ATPase Cu++ transporting beta polypeptide (ATP7B)...