omicSynth: an Open Multi-omic Community Resource for Identifying Druggable Targets across Neurodegenerative Diseases

Abstract

Treatments for neurodegenerative disorders remain rare, although recent FDA approvals, such as Lecanemab and Aducanumab for Alzheimers Disease, highlight the importance of the underlying biological mechanisms in driving discovery and creating disease modifying therapies. The global population is aging, driving an urgent need for therapeutics that stop disease progression and eliminate symptoms. In this study, we create an open framework and resource for evidence-based identification of therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative disease. We use Summary-data-based Mendelian Randomization to identify genetic targets for drug discovery and repurposing. In parallel, we provide mechanistic insights into disease processes and potential network-level consequences of gene-based therapeutics. We identify 116 Alzheimers disease, 3 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, 5 Lewy body dementia, 46 Parkinsons disease, and 9 Progressive supranuclear palsy target genes passing multiple test corrections (pSMR_multi 0.01). We created a therapeutic scheme to classify our identified target genes into strata based on druggability and approved therapeutics - classifying 41 novel targets, 3 known targets, and 115 difficult targets (of these 69.8% are expressed in the disease relevant cell type from single nucleus experiments). Our novel class of genes provides a springboard for new opportunities in drug discovery, development and repurposing in the pre-competitive space. In addition, looking at drug-gene interaction networks, we identify previous trials that may require further follow-up such as Riluzole in AD. We also provide a user-friendly web platform to help users explore potential therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases, decreasing activation energy for the community [https://nih-card-ndd-smr-home-syboky.streamlit.app/].