Press release 4th December 2014
Red Glead Discovery and LU researchers receive research grant to develop new diabetes therapy
The parties announced today that they received a SEK 653 000 grant from the Swedish Governmental Agency for
Innovation Systems (VINNOVA). This grant will support research activities to progress a collaborative small
molecule drug discovery project aiming at a novel target for type 2 diabetes treatment.
Prof. Per Kjellbom at Lund University, with Dr. Michael Rützler as principal investigator and Prof. Sören Nielsen at
Aalborg University, have identified a novel mechanism for inhibiting hepatic glucose production. The approach
presents opportunities for offering an oral therapy to patients with advanced type 2 diabetes. Within the
collaboration, Red Glead Discovery developed a series of small molecules, which reduced metabolic glucose
production in diabetic mice. The grant will support a medicinal chemistry program for generation of improved
inhibitors that can enter pre-clinical testing.
The project team, which includes the academic partners, LU Innovation System AB, and Red Glead Discovery, aims
at commercializing the compounds. Recently, a patent application covering a series of inhibitors has been
submitted.
“Patients with advanced type 2 diabetes are often burdened with deteriorating kidney function. This prevents the
use of currently available oral therapies. We hope to generate a new treatment option that can improve lifequality for this group of patients”, says Michael Rützler.
“We have a very competent team in place and with the current grant we will be able to continue our development
plan to our next milestone” adds Christine Widstrand.
For additional information, please contact Dr. Martina Kvist Reimer, Red Glead Discovery AB, +46 46 460 12 92 or
Christine Widstrand, LU Innovation System, +46 46 222 1295.
About Red Glead Discovery
Red Glead Discovery, founded 2011, is a R&D company focused on development of small molecule and peptide therapeutics.
The internal capabilities span across the drug discovery process chain enabling delivery of first-rate customized solutions for
a range of drug discovery challenges offered for clients and R&D partners.
For more information, please visit www.redglead.com.
About LU Innovation System AB
LU Innovation System AB is Lund University whole owned holding company. The activity is to support researchers from the
university to commercialize their research results. LU Innovation System can support and finance company formation, but
also own, manage and sell shares in companies with origin at Lund University. Since 1999 LU Innovation System has been
involved in over seventy companies.
Red Glead Discovery AB
Medicon Village
223 81 Lund
Sweden
Visiting address:
Building 403, Scheelevägen 2
Medicon Village, 223 63 Lund
Sweden
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web:
e-mail:
phone:
556859–2876
www.redglead.com
info@redglead.com
+46-46-460 12 91