Aryl-containing 5-acylindolinones, the preparation thereof and their use as medicaments

Patent Number: 7,176,231

Although much effort in stem cell therapeutic development is being focused on administration of exogenous stem cells, one area that is generally being overlooked is methods of activating/expanding endogenous stem cells. It was recently published that the in vivo inhibition of the enzyme GSK-3 promotes hematopoietic stem cell self renewal (Trowbridge et al. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 is an in vivo regulator of hematopoietic stem cell repopulation. Nat Med. 2006 Jan;12(1):89-98) through selectively modulating Wnt, Hedgehog and Notch in stem cells but not in mature cells. Other groups have also demonstrated that inhibition of the GSK-3 pathway can enhance stem cell proliferation in vitro.

The current patent provides composition of matter claims on numerous chemical inhibitors of GSK-3. The pharmacological testing of these compounds is certain to usher a new era in stem cell manipulation.

View this patent on the USPTO website.