Biovitrum Transfers Two Metabolic Disease Projects to iNovacia

24-Jun-2009 - Sweden

Biovitrum AB and iNovacia AB announced an agreement to transfer the preclinical GPR 119 and SCD-1 projects from Biovitrum to iNovacia. The agreement includes a split of all future revenues from the projects 70:30 (iNovacia:Biovitrum). Biovitrum will also receive royalties from future product sales resulting from the projects. iNovacia will within the agreement be able to add additional partners to further develop the projects.

The GPR-119 project compounds have shown efficacy in disease models indicating that they may restore insulin production and release in type-2 diabetes patients and thereby blood glucose regulation. Substances developed in the SCD-1 project can improve 'bad cholesterol', as well as blood glucose, levels in disease models of diabetes.

GPR 119 is a receptor expressed in the insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas in humans. It is activated by incretins, which are hormones produced in the gastric tract, released in connection to meals and stimulating insulin release. Receptors that mediate effects of incretins, e. g. the GLP-1 receptor, have therefore become some of the most important targets for development of novel pharmaceuticals for the treatment of type-2 diabetes. Unlike the GLP-1 receptor, GPR 119 can be activated by small molecular compounds, which has led to a great medical and commercial interest in such compounds. Preclinical results from studies on beta cells from both humans and rodents support the notion that GRP 119 is important for the regulation of glucose dependent insulin release and beta cell function. A series of patent pending substances are very active in different diabetic disease model systems, in vitro as well as in vivo.

SCD-1 (stearoylcoenzyme-A-desaturase-1) is an enzyme that converts saturated fatty acids into monounsaturated fatty acids and that is critical for the formation of fat. The enzyme activity correlates well with plasma concentrations of fat and BMI (Body Mass Index) and is elevated at high intake of carbohydrates. These properties are considered relevant for the emergence of obesity and insulin insensitivity and hepatic accumulation of fat. SCD-1 is thus a promising target for obesity and type-2 diabetes intervention as well as for the treatment of certain liver diseases (hepatosteatosis).

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/102391/biovitrum-transfers-two-metabolic-disease-projects-to-inovacia.html