Background

The inhibition of the monoacylglycerol lipase enzyme (MAGL), naturally present in many brain cells and involved in physio-pathological processes, has a high therapeutic potential: neurodegenerative inflammation pathologies and tumors could be treated with new reversible inhibitory compounds, which would reduce the side effects of the irreversible inhibitors tested so far.

Technology Overview

MAGL is a human enzyme of the endocannabinoid system involved in numerous physio-pathological processes (regulation of inflammation, anxiety, immune modulation, motor coordination, etc.), yet its overexpression/upregulation can cause neuroinflammatory diseases and tumors. The inhibition of MAGL for therapeutic purposes has been studied so far with irreversible inhibitors, which however nullify the enzyme activity, leading to a progressive loss of the therapeutic effect and to addiction phenomena.