Belgium-based ThromboGenics has received a €3m grant (approximately $4.2m) from the Flemish agency for innovation by science and technology (IWT) for supporting new research into potential new biotherapeutics to treat diabetic macular edema (DME).
DME is a sight-threatening condition occuring in type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients, due to fluid leakage into the area of the retina.
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ThromboGenics will use the IWT funding for developing 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 such as properties.
ThromboGenics will generate these new candidates using the AMP-Rx protein design technology, which the company licensed from Eleven Biotherapeutics in May 2013.
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By GlobalDataThromboGenics CEO Dr Patrik De Haes said 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 said.
ThromboGenics’ new biotherapeutics are aimed at reducing the vascular leakage and inflammation.
Image: Diabetic macular edema. Photo: courtesy of GeeJo.
