What is an Aspartyl Protease?

One of two protein families that Actelion focuses on as therapeutic targets, Aspartyl proteases (or acid proteases) consist of a family of enzymes. Today more than 50 members of the aspartyl protease family are known. Eight are currently known in humans (pepsin, gastricsin, napsin, renin, cathepsin D and E, BACE 1 & 2). Their physiological roles are emerging as well as their links to pathophysiological states such as cancer, inflammation, cardiovascular and neurological diseases.