Fri. Mar 29, 2024 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM [Room 501] Conference Center 501 (5F)

Organizer: Masayoshi Fukasawa (NIID), Masuo Kondoh (Grad. Sch. Pharm. Osaka Univ; CiDER, Osaka Univ.)

The epithelium functions as a critical barrier separating the intrabody and the external environments. Approximately 90% of malignant tumors are derived from the epithelial tissues. Most pathogenic microorganisms invade into the body from mucosal epithelium. Epithelial barrier dysfunction is often associated with inflammatory diseases. Thus, epithelium has been paid attention as drug targets. The concept of enhancing absorption by regulating the intestinal mucosal barrier was proposed over 60 years ago. The biology of epithelial barrier, which made progress by the discovery of occludin by Drs Furuse and Tsukita in 1993, has provided us impacts on drug discovery targeting the epithelium. For instance, absorption enhancer of drugs by modulating claudins, anti-cancer drugs targeting claudins, antigen delivery to mucosal immune tissues by targeting claudin, virus entry inhibitor targeting claudin and occludin, and anti-infectious drugs by modulating vascular barrier have been developed. Recently the first-in-class CLDN-18.2 targeted antibody therapeutics, zolbetuximab, was submitted for approval application to MHLW in Japan. In this symposium, we overview the cutting edge of drug development based on the biology of epithelial barrier.