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Follicum annnouces positive human ex vivo data from preclinical diabetes studies of new class of FOL peptides
Follicum AB ("Follicum" or "the Company") today announces that data from studies on human Langerhans islets have shown positive effects on insulin release in line with the previously reported results on beta cells isolated from animals. The studies were performed through two different collaborations, one with Lund University and one with InSphero, Switzerland and showed similar results.
The Company's development of a peptide-based treatment of diabetes and its complications is proceeding according to plan. Follicum has studied the ability of peptides to induce insulin secretion in Langerhans islets derived from human donors. The studies show that in these ex vivo studies the peptides has the ability to release insulin in line with a GLP-1 analogue. Thus the effect of the peptides on beta cell lines previously reported can be reproduced in human material.
These studies are two of several studies that is presently ongoing to further substantiate the therapeutic value of FOL-peptides in various diabetic complications.
CEO Jan Alenfall comments
- We are very pleased to be able to report these findings from two different labs. It is important to report effects in human material at an early stage. The results of these studies show that Follicum's peptides are as potent as a GLP-1 analogue in human material.
About Diabetes
Diabetes is rapidly increasing globally. The disease is characterized by poor blood sugar control due to defective insulin signalling, which causes serious sequelae such as cardiovascular disease, renal failure, obesity, blindness and diabetic foot ulcers. Diabetes as well as its accompanying illnesses represent a major burden, partly for the individual patient, but also for the entire health care system. There is thus an already large and growing global need for new therapies that address effective control of glucose levels in combination with preventive effects on the various diabetic complications.
For further information, please contact:
Jan Alenfall - CEO, Follicum AB
Telephone: +46 46 19 21 97
Email: 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 the 17th of December 2019.
About InSphero
InSphero is the pioneer of industrial-grade, 3D-cell-based assay solutions and scaffold-free 3D organ-on-a-chip technology. Through partnerships, InSphero supports pharmaceutical and biotechnology researchers in successful decision-making by accurately rebuilding the human physiology in vitro. Its robust and precisely engineered suite of 3D InSight™ human tissue platforms are used by major pharmaceutical companies worldwide to increase efficiency in drug discovery and safety testing. The company specializes in liver toxicology, metabolic diseases (e.g., T1 & T2 diabetes and NAFLD & NASH liver disease), and oncology (with a focus on immuno-oncology and PDX models). The scalable Akura™ technology underlying the company's 3D InSight™ Discovery and Safety Platforms includes 96 and 384-well plate formats and the Akura™ Flow organ-on-a-chip system to drive efficient innovation throughout all phases of drug development. www.insphero.com
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, Follicums research has resulted in a new peptide class which significantly increases the release of insulin 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 Spotlight since 2014. www.follicum.com.