22 September 2017 - - New York, New York-based type 1 diabetes (T1D) research funding organization JDRF will contribute funding to Toronto, Canada-based pre-clinical life sciences company Zucara Therapeutics Inc., the company said.
This funding builds on JDRF's previous support of the work of Dr. Michael Riddell of York University and Dr. Richard Liggins of The Centre for Drug Research and Development, founding scientists behind Zucara.
Zucara is advancing a novel therapeutic approach to prevent hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes. With this new investment, the company will be in a position to advance its lead clinical drug candidate through IND-enabling studies, readying it for clinical testing beginning in 2019.
The Zucara technology is aimed at creating the first treatment to prevent dangerous low blood sugar by restoring the body's ability to counter-regulate hypoglycemia. This approach will reduce the likelihood of insulin therapy to cause hypoglycemia without affecting its efficacy.
The immediate patient benefits would include the reduced occurrence of hypoglycemia and its associated acute symptoms and effects. This in turn would allow those with T1D to better regulate their blood sugar levels with insulin, resulting in better overall health outcomes in the long term.
JDRF funds T1D research to accelerate breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, the organization has invested more than USD2 bn in research funding since inception. It has staff and volunteers throughout the United States and at six international affiliates.
Zucara Therapeutics, a spin-off of The Centre for Drug Research and Development and MaRS Innovation, is developing a drug therapy to prevent hypoglycemia in people with diabetes.
The company's first-in-class therapeutic is aimed at inhibiting a hormone in the pancreas called somatostatin, which does not function properly in Type 1 diabetes.