Novo Nordisk forms academic partnership with Washington Uni
pharmafile | November 4, 2015 | News story | Research and Development | Novo Nordisk, diabetes, obesity
Novo Nordisk has launched a new research collaboration with researchers at the University of Washington, to develop new drugs for the treatment of diabetes and obesity.
Dr Michael Schwartz, director of The Diabetes and Obesity Centre of Excellence at UW Medicine, will work with the Danish pharma firm to investigate factors involved in how the brain controls blood glucose levels and appetite.
The research will be conducted at UW Medicine’s South Lake Union research campus in Seattle, Washington, and at Novo Nordisk R&D facilities.
During the three-year collaboration, Dr Schwartz – a University of Washington professor of medicine – and his team, together with Novo Nordisk researchers, will conduct a research programme on the effect of known hormonal factors working in the brain to regulate whole body glucose metabolism and appetite.
Dr Schwartz is considered a world expert in diabetes and obesity with focus on the role of the brain in the regulation of energy balance, insulin resistance and glucose metabolism. His work is frequently published in high-ranking journals and is seen as setting the direction for this field of research.
“We are very happy to enter into a close collaboration with Dr Schwartz,” says Peter Kurtzhals, senior vice president of global research at Novo Nordisk. There is a large potential in following this angle for blood glucose and appetite control, and we hope it will bring new agents for the treatment of diabetes and obesity to the patients.”
Dr Schwartz says: “We are excited to launch this new collaboration with colleagues at Novo Nordisk. Our collective skill and expertise will help us to both advance our understanding of the brain’s role in blood sugar control and to develop novel approaches to diabetes treatment.”
Joel Levy
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