Follicum identifies receptors in insulin-producing cells for potential new class of diabetes drugs
Lund, Sweden, January 29, 2018. Follicum AB ("Follicum") today announced that it has successfully mapped the receptors in insulin-producing cells that bind the company’s peptides. The new knowledge represents an important milestone in the continued development of the company's diabetes project and opens the possibility of the identified receptors becoming potential drug targets for stimulating insulin secretion and reduction of diabetic complications.
Investigation of mechanism of action
The research was conducted in collaboration with Swiss proteomics specialist Dualsystems Biotech and aimed to identify receptors in a well-characterized insulin-producing cell line that bind the company’s peptides. The purpose of the experiments also included analysis on how the structure of the peptides can be optimized for the selection of novel drug candidates. The experiments confirmed the existence of such receptors, thus suggesting that they could become new drug targets for Follicum’s peptides in diabetes treatment. To verify the hypothesis, the company will initiate detailed studies of the receptors in preclinical trials within the framework of its established cooperation with Professor Jan Nilsson’s group at the Clinical Research Center, Lund University.
CEO Jan Alenfall comments
"With the new results from our diabetes project involving our peptide classes, we now look forward to conducting further studies to expand our knowledge, thereby paving the way for a potential development of a whole new class of diabetes drugs. We have recently strengthened our organization and we are looking forward to continued collaboration with Lund University.”
Major Swedish diabetes project
The preclinical research is partly funded by a recent grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Follicum is also a member of a major diabetes project, financed by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research. The company participates together with several leading companies within diabetes like Novo Nordisk, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Pfizer as well as Region Skåne/University Hospital of Skåne in Malmö.
About DualSystems Biotech
Dualsystems Biotech is a provider of proteomics services for industry and academia. The LRC TriCEPS™ technology platform is designed to identify targets and off-targets in the cell membrane of living cells. The company was established in 2000 and is situated in Zurich, Switzerland.
For more information, please contact:
Jan Alenfall – VD, Follicum AB
Telefon: 046 - 19 21 97
E-post: info@follicum.com
This information is information that Follicum is obliged to make public according to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was provided through the agency of the contact persons above, for publication on January 29, 2018.
About Follicum AB
Follicum is a biotech company focused on the discovery and development of peptide-based drugs. The primary focus is in hair growth stimulation, where Follicum has obtained very promising results with FOL-005 in a recently completed clinical trial. In diabetes, one drug candidate FOL-014 has demonstrated an increase in insulin release in pre-clinical models. The company was founded in 2011, and is based in Lund, Sweden. Follicum is listed on the Swedish small cap exchange Aktietorget since 2014. www.follicum.com
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