Advertise With UsAdvertise on our extensive network of industry websites and newsletters.
Get the PBR newsletterSign up to our free email to get all the latest PBR
news.The Flemish agency for Innovation by Science and Technology (IWT) has approved a EUR3m grant to ThromboGenics for supporting a new research into potential new biotherapeutics to treat diabetic macular edema (DME).
Subscribe to our email newsletter
DME occurs due to fluid leakage into the area of the retina. The sight-threatening condition occurs in type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients. ThromboGenics’ new biotherapeutics are aimed at reducing the vascular leakage and inflammation.
The IWT funding will be used by the company to develop a much better understanding of the role of a novel pathway in diabetic macular edema as the basis for discovering new pre-clinical therapeutic candidates.
The company will develop new in vitro assays and in vivo models for identifying biotherapeutics that activate the pathway. This will help the company in identifying pre-clinical candidates that meet a target product profile based around in vitro potency, in vivo efficacy and drug like properties.
Using the AMP-Rx protein design technology, ThromboGenics will generate these new candidates. ThromboGenics has licensed the AMP-Rx protein design technology from Eleven Biotherapeutics in May 2013.
ThromboGenics CEO Dr Patrik De Haes noted the award of this grant from IWT will enable the company to continue to progress its research activities in the field of diabetic eye disease.
"We believe that by gaining a greater understanding of this novel pathway we may be able to discover and develop new biotherapeutics that could play a key role in the treatment of diabetic macular edema.
"DME is a very prevalent condition where there is still scope to improve on the clinical outcomes delivered by current treatment options including laser coagulation, anti-VEGF antibodies and steroids," Haes added.