Principal Investigator

Juan Saus Mas
Principal Investigator

Position Title

Associate Professor
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.
University of Valencia (UVEG)

Principal Investigator of Autoimmune Pathology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of UVEG.

Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of Fibrostatin SL
Scientific Park of UVEG

Previous scientific activities

Predoctoral. Institute of Citology Research, Valencia (Spain)
Predoctoral. Institute of Biological Chemistry, Bologna (Italy)
Postdoctoral. Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas (USA)
Postdoctoral. Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Jersey (USA)
Principal Investigation, Autoimmune Pathology Laboratory, CIPF and UVEG, Valencia (Spain)

Technology transfer activities

Protection and development of intellectual property (IP), an activity that has devoted nearly 50% of his professional dedication.

Formalizing utility patents in the Patent and Trademark Office U.S. in relation to the discovery of GPBP and related proteins (GIP), with relevance in inflammation, cell degeneration, autoimmunity and cancer. More strategic patents (composition of matter) were extended to other countries.

With his collaborators (inventors) founded FibroStatin SL, which was incorporated to manage and exploit IP.

Selected scientific production

Peer-reviewed publications in referenced international journals: 13 of 37
Book chapters: 2 of 3
Research projects: 9 of 30
Granted patents: 28
International utility patent applications (PCT): 10

Selected peer-review publications

 Saus, J., Wieslander, J., Langeveld, J.P.M., Quinones, S., and Hudson, B.G. Identification of the Goodpasture antigen as the α3 (IV) chain of collagen IV. J Biol Chem 263, 13374-13380, 1988

Quinones, S., Bernal, D., García-Sogo, M., Elena, S.F., and Saus, J. Exon/Intron structure of the human α3(IV) gene encompassing the Goodpasture antigen [α3(IV)NC1]: Identification of a potentially antigenic region at the triple helix/NC1 domain junction. J Biol Chem 267,19780- 19784, 1992.

Bernal, D., Quinones, S. and Saus, J. The human mRNA encoding the Goodpasture antigen is alternatively spliced. J Biol Chem 268, 12090-12094, 1993.

Penadés, J.R., Bernal, D., Revert, F., Johansson, C., Fresquet, V.J., Cervera, J., Wieslander, J.,  Quinones, S. and Saus, J. Characterization and expression of multiple alternatively spliced transcripts of the Goodpasture antigen gene region: Goodpasture antibodies recognize recombinant proteins representing the autoantigen and one of its alternative forms. Eur J Biochem 229, 754-760, 1995.

Revert, F., Penadés, J.R., Plana, M., Bernal, D., Johansson, C., Itarte, E., Cervera, J., Wieslander, J., Quinones, S. and Saus, J.  Phosphorylation of the Goodpasture antigen by type A protein kinases. J Biol Chem 270, 13254-13261, 1995.

Raya, A., Revert, F., Navarro, S., and Saus, J. Characterization of a novel type of serine/threonine kinase that specifically phosphorylates the human Goodpasture antigen.  J Biol Chem 274, 12642-12649, 1999.

Raya A, Revert-Ros F, Martinez-Martinez P, Navarro S, Rosello E, Vieites B, Granero F, Forteza J and Saus J. GPBP, the kinase that phosphorylates the Goodpasture antigen, is an alternatively spliced variant implicated in autoimmune pathogenesis. J Biol Chem 275, 40392-40399, 2000.

Granero, F., Revert, F., Revert-Ros, F., Lainez, S., Martínez-Martínez, P., and Saus, J. A human-specific TNF-responsive promoter for Goodpasture antigen-binding protein FEBS J 272, 5291-5305, 2005.

Calvete, J., Revert, F., Blanco, M., Cervera, J., Tárrega, C., Sanz, L., Revert-Ros, F., Granero, F., Pérez-Paya, E., Hudson, B.G., and Saus, J. Conformational diversity of the Goodpasture antigen, the noncollagenous-1 domain of the α3 chain of collagen IV  Proteomics 6:S237-S244, 2006.

Revert, F., Merino, R.,Monteagudo, C., Macías, J., Peydró, A., Alcácer, J., Muniesa, P., Marquina, R., Blanco, M., Iglesias, M., Revert-Ros, F., Merino, J., and Saus, J. Increased Goodpasture antigen-binding protein expression induces type IV collagen disorganization and deposit of immunoglobulin A in glomerular basement membrane . Am J Pathol 17, 1419-1430,2007.

Revert F, Ventura I, Martínez-Martínez P, Granero-Moltó F, Revert-Ros F, Macías J, and Saus J. Goodpasture antigen-binding protein is a soluble exportable protein that interacts with type IV collagen: Identification of novel membrane-bound isoforms. J Biol Chem 283, 30246-30255, 2008. 

Revert-Ros F, Lopez-Pascual E, Granero-Molto F, Macias J, Breyer R, Zent R, Hudson BG, Saadeddin A, Revert F, Blasco R, Navarro C, Burks D, and Saus J. Goodpasture antigen-binding protein (GPBP) directs myofibril formation: Identification of intracellular downstream effector 130-kDa GPBP-interacting protein (GIP130). J Biol Chem 286, 35030-35043, 2011

Gozalbo-Rovira R, Rodríguez-Díaz J, Saus J, Cervera J. Precise mapping of the Goodpasture epitope(s)using phage display, site-directed mutagenesis, and surface plasmon resonance. Kidney Int (In press), 2012.

Book chapters

Langeveld, J.P., Yem, A.W.T., Timoneda, J., Saus, J., Wisdom, B.J. and Hudson, B.G. Molecular structure of collagen IV of glomerular basement membrane.Pages, start 25, end 39. 1987. USA.

Saus, J. Goodpasture's Syndrome. Encyclopedia of Immunology, 2nd edn., eds. Delves, P.J.& Roitt, I.M. Academic Press Ltd. Volumen: 2. Pages, start 1005, end 1011. 1998. London.

Research projects

GPBP in the molecular and supramolecular organization of the Goodpasture antigen and in the pathogenesis of autoimmune glomerulonephritis.(2007-2009)
Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (SAF 2006-12520-C02-01)
Participants: CIPF
Principal Investigator: Juan Saus Mas                         
Researchers: 8
Budget: 204.000 €

Identification of compounds modulating the GPBP activity in cellular models. (2007-2008)
Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (PET 2006_0721)
Participants: UVEG and Fibrostatin SL
Principal Investigator: Juan Saus Mas                         
Researchers: 8
Budget: 60.791 €

GPBP in the collagen organization of the glomerular basement membrane and in the pathogenesis of antibody-mediated glomerulonephritis. (2010-2012)
Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (SAF2009-10703)
Participants: CIPF
Principal Investigator: Juan Saus Mas                         
Researchers: 6
Budget: 230.000 €

The role of GPBP in glomerular basement membrane organization and in the pathogenesis of immune glomerulonephritis. (2009-2013)
Consellería d' Educació Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO/2009/065)
Participants: CIPF
Principal Investigator: Juan Saus Mas
Researchers: 6
Budget: 335.300€

Determination of GPBP the serum levels in patients with nephritis.(2010-2013)
Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (TRA2009_0026)
Participants: UVEG and Fibrostatin SL
Principal Investigator: Juan Saus Mas
Researchers: 4
Budget: 188.740 €

Development of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures based on GPBP technology.(2010-2014)
Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (IPT-010000-2010-45)
Participants: Fibrostatin SL and CIPF
Principal Investigator: Juan Saus Mas
Researchers: 7
Budget: 2.300.000 €

Development of diagnostic tests and drug candidates based on GPBP technology. (2011-2014)
Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (IPT-2011-1527-010000)
Participants: Fibrostatin SL, UVEG and Universidad de Cantabria
Principal Investigator: Juan Saus Mas
Researchers: 12
Budget: 2.146.095 € 

GPBP (Goodpasture antigen-binding protein) activity profiling in plasma and GPBP-T12 complex structure resolution to ensure the clinical development of T12, first GPBP inhibitor drug candidate. (2014-2017)
Conselleria d’ Educació, Cultura i Esports, Generalitat Valenciana. (PROMETEOII/2014/048)
Participants: UVEG
Principal Investigator: Juan Saus Mas                         
Researchers: 4
Budget: 75.000 € (2014); 67.675 € (2015); pending (2016 y 2017)

GPBP activity profiling in plasma to ensure the clinical development of GPBP inhibitor drug candidates.(2014-2017)
Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (RTC-2014-2415-1)
Participants: Fibrostatin SL y UVEG
Principal Investigator: Juan Saus Mas                         
Researchers: 10
Budget: 1.759.078 €

Patents

Juan Saus “Goodpasture antigen-binding protein” Patent 6579969 (US). Issued Date: 17.06.2003. Expiration Date: 24.02.2020. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus “Goodpasture antigen-binding protein” Patent 7186527 (US). Issued Date: 06.03.2007. Expiration Date: 07.11.2023. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus “Goodpasture antigen-binding protein” Patent 7189517(US). Issued Date: 13.03.2007. Expiration Date: 16.03.2021. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus “Methods and reagents for treating autoimmune disorders” Patent 6881547 (US). Issued Date: 19.04.2005. Expiration Date: 12.11.2022. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus “TNF-inducible promoters and methods for using” Patent 7060459 (US). Issued Date: 13.06.2006. Expiration Date: 06.08.2023. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus y Francisco Revert-Ros “GIPs, a family of polypeptides with transcription factor activity that interact with Goodpasture antigen-binding protein” Patent 7147855 (US). Issued Date: 12.12.2006. Expiration Date: 09.11.2023. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus “Goodpasture antigen-binding protein” Patent 760197 (Australia). Issued Date: 21.08.2003. Expiration Date: 24.02.2020. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus “Goodpasture antigen-binding protein” Patent 1144650 (European Patent Convention). Issued Date: 25.01.2006. Expiration Date: 24.02.2020. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus “Goodpasture antigen-binding protein” Patent 1144650 (France). Issued Date: 25.01.2006. Expiration Date: 24.02.2020. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus “Goodpasture antigen-binding protein” Patent 1144650 (Germany). Issued Date: 25.01.2006. Expiration Date: 24.02.2020. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus “Goodpasture antigen-binding protein” Patent 1144650 (Spain). Issued Date: 25.01.2006. Expiration Date: 24.02.2020. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus “Goodpasture antigen-binding protein” Patent 1144650 (England). Issued Date: 25.01.2006. Expiration Date: 24.02.2020. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus “Goodpasture antigen-binding protein” Patent 3761784 (Japan). Issued Date: 29.03.2006. Expiration Date: 24.02.2020. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus “Goodpasture antigen-binding protein” Patent 240017 (Mexico). Issued Date: 05.09.2006. Expiration Date: 24.02.2020. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus “Goodpasture antigen-binding protein” Patent 2361987 (Canada). Issued Date: 03.07.2007. Expiration Date: 24.02.2020. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus y Francisco Revert-Ros “GIPs, a family of polypeptides with transcription factor activity that interact with Goodpasture antigen-binding protein” Patent nº 2002365637 (Australia). Issued Date: 24.01.2008. Expiration Date: 05.12.2022. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus, Fernando Revert y Francisco Revert-Ros “Goodpasture antigen-binding protein isoforms and protein misfolded-mediated disorders” Patent 7,326,768 (US). Issued Date:  05.02.2008. Expiration Date: 09.11.2024. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus y Francisco Revert-Ros  “GIPs, a family of polypeptides with transcription factor activity that interact with Goodpasture antigen-binding protein” Patent 4201712 (Japan). Issued Date: 18.10.2008. Expiration Date: 05.12.2022. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus y Francisco Revert-Ros  “GIPs, a family of polypeptides with transcription factor activity that interact with Goodpasture antigen-binding protein” Patent 7601349 (US). Issued Date: 13.10.2009. Expiration Date: 05.12.2022. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus “Goodpasture antigen-binding protein” Patent 7629132 (USA) Issued Date: 12.08.2009. Expiration Date: 24.02.2020. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus y Fernando Revert “Goodpasture antigen-binding protein and its detection” Patent 7935492 (US). Issued Date: 03.05.2011. Expiration Date: 22.07.2028. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus, Santos Fustero, Juan Francisco Sanz-Cervera, Enrique Perez-Paya, Raul Blasco, Francisco Revert-Ros y Fernando Revert “GPBP inhibition using Q2 peptidomimetics” Patent 8586776 (US). Issued Date: 19.11.2013. Expiration Date: 05.11.2029. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL.

Juan Saus, Santos Fustero, Juan Francisco Sanz-Cervera, Enrique Pérez-Paya, Raúl Blasco, Francisco Revert-Ros y Fernando Revert. “GPBP inhibition using Q2 peptidomimetics. Patent 321212 (Mexico). Issued Date: 20.06.2014. Expiration Date: 05.11.2030. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL.

Juan Saus, Santos Fustero, Juan Francisco Sanz-Cervera, Enrique Pérez-Paya, Raúl Blasco, Francisco Revert-Ros y Fernando Revert. “GPBP inhibition using Q2 peptidomimetics”. Patent 2496544 (Europe). Issued Date: 20.08.2014. Expiration Date: 05.11.2030. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL.

Juan Saus y Fernando Revert “Goodpasture antigen-binding protein and its detection” Patent 5654989 (Japan) Issued Date: 28.11.2014. Expiration Date: 22.07.2028. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL.

Juan Saus, Santos Fustero, Juan Francisco Sanz-Cervera, Enrique Pérez-Paya, Raúl Blasco, Francisco Revert-Ros y Fernando Revert. “GPBP inhibition using Q2 peptidomimetics”. Patent ZL201080050226.2 (China). Issued Date: 24.12.2014. Expiration Date: 05.11.2030. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL.

Juan Saus y Fernando Revert “Goodpasture antigen-binding protein and its detection” Patent: 2318039 (Europe). Issued Date: 08.04.2015. Expiration Date: 22.07.2028. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL.

Juan Saus, Francisco Revert-Ros, Fernando Revert, Carmen Aguado-Velasco, Ernesto López-Pascual, Alejandra Pérez-Sastre, Raúl Blasco, Hector Pérez-Montoyo. “GPBP-1 inhibition and its therapeutic use” Patent 9066938 (US). Issued Date: February 2015. Expiration Date: 02.07.2032. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL.

Juan Saus, Santos Fustero, Juan Francisco Sanz-Cervera, Enrique Pérez-Paya, Raúl Blasco, Francisco Revert-Ros y Fernando Revert. “GPBP inhibition using Q2 peptidomimetics”. Patent HK1175164 (Hong Kong). Issued Date: 24.07.2015. Expiration Date: 05.11.2030. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL.

International Utility Patent Applications (PCT)

Juan Saus. “Goodpasture antigen binding protein”. Application date:     60/121,483. USA. Priority date: 24.2.1999. International application No:  PCT/IB00/00324 y WO 00/50607. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus. “TNF-inducible promoters and methods for using”. Application date: 60/254,649. USA. Priority date: 8.12.2000. International application No: PCT/EP 01/14412, WO 02/46433. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus. “Alternative pol kappa nucleotide and amino acid sequence and methods for using”. Application date:  60/254,649. USA. Priority date: 8.12.2000. International application No: PCT/EP 01/14409 y WO 02/46378. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus. “Methods and reagents for treating autoimmune disorders”. Application date: 60/265,249.USA
Priority date: 31.1.2001. International application No:  PCT/EP 02/01010 y WO 02/061430. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus y Francisco Revert-Ros. “GIPs, a family of polypeptides with transcription factor activity that interact with Goodpasture antigen binding protein ”. Application date: 60/338,287 y 60/382,004.USA. Priority date: 7.12.2001. International application No:  PCT/EP 02/13802, WO03048193. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus, Fernando Revert y Francisco Revert-Ros. “Novel Goodpasture antigen-binding protein isoforms and protein misfolded-mediated disorders”. Application date: 60/445,043; 60/445,003 y 60/445,004. USA. Priority date: 5.1.2003. International application No: PCT/EP04/01074 y WO 2004/070025. Assignee: Fibrostatin SL

Juan Saus y Fernando Revert. “Goodpasture antigen-binding protein and its detection”. Application date provisionales: 61/082741 y 61/085211. USA.  Priority date: 22.07.2008.  USA Patent application No.:  12/506064; Filed date: 20.07.2009. International application No:  PCT/EP2009/005258 y WO 2010/009856. Assignee: Fibrostatin, SL

Juan Saus, Santos Fustero, Juan Francisco Sanz-Cervera, Enrique Perez-Paya, Raul Blasco, Francisco Revert-Ros y Fernando Revert. “GPBP inhibition using Q2 peptidomimetics”. Application date provisionales: 61/258,432. USA. Priority date: 05.11.2009. USA Patent application No.: 12/940,598;  Filed date: 05.11.2010 International application No: PCT/EP2010/006757 y WO 2011/054530  Assignee: Fibrostatin, SL

Juan Saus, Fernando Revert, Ramón Merino y Jesús Merino.  “Methods for treating and diagnosing disease”
Application date provisionales: 61/444872 ; 61/473411 ; 61/469945. USA.  Priority date: 21.2.2011.  USA Patent application No.: 13400831;  Filed date: 21.02.2012.  International application No:  PCT/EP12/052923 y WO 2012/113785. Assignee: Fibrostatin, SL.