ABSTRACT

Endometriosis is estimated to affect 5-10% of women of reproductive age and causes infertility in about 50% of cases; affecting over 200 million women and girls globally. Currently, there are over 15 million surgically confirmed patients of Endometriosis in North America with an overall impact of approximately $22 Billion dollar on economy. Endometriosis, for which there is no absolute cure, is a painful female reproductive disease in which tissue from the uterine lining (endometrium) migrates outside the womb and implants in other areas of the body. Endometrium in ectopic sites must establish its own blood supply to supports its growth and development into an endometriosis lesion. SYNG Pharma’s novel target is an intrinsically disordered protein that functions in its physiologically unfolded form, has elevated expression in endothelial cells of endometriosis lesions compared to eutopic endometrium. SYNG Pharma has developed a specific peptide inhibitor, SP011, a potential first non-hormonal therapy of endometriosis. In vitro binding studies demonstrate that SP011 specifically binds to the target. Localization of SP011-FITC was shown using intra-vital fluorescence microscopy, which also confirmed inhibition of neovascularization in presence of peptide inhibitor using an animal model of endometriosis. Data from pre-clinical efficacy studies using animal model shows inhibition of human endometrial lesion growth and reduction of neovascularization. Treated group also had reduced blood vessel growth when given daily intraperitoneal injections of SP011 compared to phosphate buffered saline control.

BIO

Vinay is a dynamic and innovative educator and an entrepreneur in the Biotechnology field who combines an accomplished academic career with strong success in business and management. He has proven achievements in Biotechnology Research and Development, specifically Molecular Diagnostics, Cancer Therapeutics and Biomarkers. He has 18 years of business experience in product development, marketing and sales and successfully started and exited 3 companies He was an Adjunct Professor at Queen’s University School of Medicine till 2015 where he taught biotechnology and studied Natively Unfolded Proteins as Therapeutic Targets. In a short span of his academic career, he has an exemplary record as a researcher and a Professor with 35 high impact International papers with over few thousand total citations and 4 independent discoveries with granted patents and multiple pending patent applications worldwide. Vinay has given invited talks around the world and presented research in over 70 conferences. He is a gifted educator who has won best Professor Award for every year he taught at the Queen’s University including Faculty of Health Sciences Education Award (Highest Award in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen’s University) in 2010, nomination for Frank Knox Award (Prestigious Teaching Award in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences) in 2013 and became Fellow of Association of Biotechnology and Pharmacy of India in 2014. He is an active volunteer with multiple organizations and recently received 15 Year Volunteer Services Award by the Ministry of Immigration, Government of Canada. Vinay received his Ph.D. in Biotechnology with specialization in Bioinformatics and Molecular Diagnostics in 2001 and an MBA from Smith School of Business, Queen’s University in 2012.