Originally located in Miami, FL, where project PI located, Anchored RSK3 Inhibitors, LLC, relocated to Los Altos, CA is structured around developing novel therapeutics based upon RSK3 inhibition that will prevent and/or treat heart failure. Though RSK3 is less abundant in the cardiac myocyte than other members of the RSK protein kinase family, RSK3 was required for pathological remodeling. Principals of the firm determined that in myocytes RSK3's unique N- terminal domain conferred high affinity, regulated binding to the scaffold protein muscle A-kinase anchoring protein (mAKAPÃ). The goal of STTR project: support the development of a new adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy vector that expresses the RSK3 anchoring disruptor peptide potentially providing proof-of-concept for a new therapeutic approach for the treatment and/or prevention of heart failure based upon RSK3 displacement within the myocyte.
