Rycal™ Science
 

Rycals™: the next big thing in small molecules
  An inspiring new direction in therapy for the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, Rycals™ are small-molecule therapeutics developed in the laboratory of Dr Andrew R. Marks at Columbia University in New York, NY. Specifically, Rycals™ are calcium release channel stabilizers that show great promise in the treatment of debilitating cardiac, skeletal muscle, and neurological disorders.
 

Signaling a new chapter in restorative function
  In chronic debilitating diseases (eg, heart failure, muscular dystrophy, neurodegenerative disorders), activation of stress pathways causes calstabin to dissociate from the ryanodine receptor channel, resulting in leaky calcium channels. When calcium is continuously leaked—rather than released in natural, highly regulated processes—contraction of heart and skeletal muscle is weakened and neurologic function is impaired.
  Rycal™ compounds can enhance the binding of calstabin to the leaky ryanodine receptor/calcium release channels that are present inside virtually all cell types. The enhanced binding of calstabin to the RyR channels stabilizes the closed state of the channel in a natural manner; this repairs the leak in the RyR channel and restores its normal function in muscle and brain tissues. It is important to note that, to date, the Rycal™ compounds have no demonstrated measurable activity on normal, non-leaky RyR channels.
  Recently, defects in ryanodine receptor function have been associated with several disorders, including:
  • Heart failure
  • Cardiac arrhythmias
  • Skeletal muscle disorders
  • Cognitive function
 

Why such strong promise

  By stabilizing the ryanodine receptor/calcium release channel, it may be possible to restore the strength of muscle contraction, which could potentially result in improvements in heart function and skeletal muscle strength. In addition, calcium leak via RyR channels in the brain may impair cognitive function and cause seizures. Therefore, by stabilizing the RyR channel function, Rycal™ compounds may improve cognitive function and prevent seizures. For both physicians and patients, Rycal™ compounds represent a potential new and welcome alternative in the treatment of chronic, debilitating disorders.
  • Selected Publications
   
   
   

Rycal™ Stabilizing Video