Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TOES20250514015
- Term of Validity
- 14 May 2025 - 14 May 2026
- Company's Country
- Spain
- Type of partnership
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
- A Spanish research group has developed a new family of glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives with enhanced antitumor activity, obtained through novel C3-position chemical modifications including spiro-pyrazoles and arylated compounds. The derivatives show superior cytotoxicity against HeLa cells compared to the natural compound. A licensee is sought to develop and market the invention.
- Full Description
-
The therapeutic application of glycyrrhetinic acid is limited by its moderate efficacy and adverse effects. Current synthetic strategies fail to access structurally novel derivatives that could overcome these drawbacks. This invention addresses these limitations by introducing innovative chemical modifications at the C3 position of glycyrrhetinic acid, yielding new arylated, heteroarylated, and spiro-pyrazole derivatives through palladium-catalyzed coupling and dipolar cycloaddition reactions.
Researchers from two Spanish public institutions have developed this technology that encompasses not only new compounds but also efficient synthetic methods to produce them. These methods involve original use of N-tosylhydrazones and access to unique ring-expanded and tetracyclic structures not previously reported for triterpenes. The derivatives have broad pharmaceutical applications including potential uses in cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and viral infections, and are suitable for various administration routes including oral, parenteral, and topical.
The present invention is applicable in the pharmaceutical, chemical and biotechnology industries. The IPR owners would like to reach license agreements with companies operating in such fields, so they can develop applications of the technology. - Advantages and Innovations
-
• Novel C3-modified glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives with unique structural scaffolds.
• Improved antitumor activity: up to 10x higher cytotoxicity than the natural acid.
• Access to spiro and fused pyrazole structures not previously available from glycyrrhetinic acid.
• Synthetic versatility through palladium-catalyzed coupling and 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition.
• Broad therapeutic potential, including anticancer, antiviral, and neuroprotective applications.
• Adaptable formulation options for multiple administration routes (e.g., oral, topical, parenteral). - Stage of Development
- Under development
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
- IPR status
- IPR applied but not yet granted
- IPR notes
-
Spanish Patent applied.
In time to apply for the extension of the protection.
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
- Licensee of the technology to develop and market the invention.
- Type and Size of Partner
- SME <=10
- SME 11-49
- SME 50 - 249
- Big company
- Type of partnership
- Commercial agreement with technical assistance
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 05001004 - Organic Chemistry
- 06001003 - Cytology, Cancerology, Oncology
- 06001015 - Pharmaceutical Products / Drugs
- Market keywords
- 05007002 - Pharmaceuticals/fine chemicals
- 05003001 - Therapeutic services
- 05005014 - Oncology
- 05005018 - Medical Physics, Physiology
- 08001017 - Industrial chemicals
- Targeted countries
- All countries