Debiopharm and Yale University to develop autoimmune treatment
pharmafile | May 5, 2011 | News story | Research and Development | Debiopharm, Yale University
Debiopharm is teaming up with researchers at Yale University to develop Debio 1036, a first-in-class inhibitor for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
The Swiss biotech firm does not conduct any drug discovery itself, but takes on drugs in the latter stages of pre-clinical work or later. The company’s new deal with Yale will see it co-developing the molecule, which was discovered by the world-famous university.
Yale and Debiopharm will work together to advance the drug from its current pre-clinical status.
“We are very excited about this new collaboration with Yale. Their leadership in marrying chemistry and biology to identify and validate lead drug candidates has yielded a new approach to treating inflammatory disease,” said Dr Rolland-Yves Mauvernay, president and founder of Debiopharm.
The Debio 1036 project aims at developing inhibitors targeting a fundamental inflammatory pathway, which plays essential roles in myriad diseases’ progression and severity.
Richard Levin, Yale University President, said: “The relationship with Debiopharm is a stellar example of the complementarities between academic discovery and commercial development. This discovery is further evidence of the valuable contributions academic institutions can make on behalf of patients.
“We sincerely believe this agreement represents the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship between Yale and Debiopharm for both Debio 1036 and other programmes at Yale.”
Debio 1036 is an orally available small molecule that antagonises a key mediator in the inflammation process. This therapeutically important target is unique in several ways due to its action early on in the inflammatory cascade and its ability to regulate cell growth and apoptosis.
If the drug progresses successfully into phase III, Debiopharm plan to out-licence the drug to big pharma companies for sales and marketing.
The company currently has one drug in phase III, hepatitis C treatment Debio 025, which is licensed to Novartis worldwide except in Japan.
Debiopharm is also active in the field of companion diagnostics with the aim of progressing in the area of personalised medicine.
Andrew McConaghie
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