GeNeuro’s Therapeutic Domain
GeNeuro is developing therapies and diagnostic tools for diseases associated the expression of the human endogenous retrovirus MSRV, with a primary focus on Nervous System diseases: Multiple Sclerosis and Schizophrenia.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration in the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. The clinical manifestations are muscle weakness, loss of muscle coordination, pain, and an evolution towards severe disabilities such as loss of vision, bladder control and paralysis. Cognitive and psychological problems are frequent. Today, more than 2.5 million people worldwide suffer from MS.
Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a severe and chronic psychiatric disorder. The major clinical features of the disease are delusions, auditory hallucinations, thought disorder, social withdrawal, lack of motivation and cognitive dysfunction. Today, more than 51 million people worldwide suffer from SCZ.
Multiple Sclerosis and Schizophrenia are diseases with an unclear aetiology, in which environmental and genetic factors seem to play a role. In the 90’s, a new retrovirus, named MSRV, belonging to the HERV-W family, was discovered in the cells of an MS patient. Today, after more than 20 years of research, several scientific studies from GeNeuro and academic groups confirm the association of MSRV with MS and SCZ.
Recent European epidemiological studies, conducted on the detection and dosage of the MSRV antigenemia in the serum of MS and SCZ patients, showed that the MSRV-Env protein and RNA of the MSRV retrovirus are closely associated with MS and SCZ. These biomarkers have a high prevalence in the serum of patients as compared to that of controls.
GeNeuro is developing diagnostic tests and specific therapies targeting this retrovirus.
More about the MSRV retrovirus
More about MS and the MSRV retrovirus
More about SCZ and the MSRV retrovirus