Axxam and Polyphor participate in a research partnership for the treatment of type-2 diabetes funded by the EU

Axxam Spa and Polyphor Ltd today announced a joint discovery research project for the generation of GLP-1R modulators. The partnership will receive funding from the EU as part of the Eurostars Program aimed at supporting innovation within the European Union.

The two companies will undertake a three-year research project with the objective of identifying and developing different classes of molecules as novel therapeutic agents to modulate the activity of the Glucagon-like-peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) for the treatment of Type-2 Diabetes.

“Axxam has developed several innovative technologies for drug discovery research of GPCRs including new functional readout systems, like Photina® and chAMPion that set the ground to develop smart screening assays for the identification of GLP-1R modulators,” said Dr. Chiara Liberati, Head of Discovery at Axxam.

Tailored functional assays will be developed to address the different mode of actions offered by the GLP-1R pharmacology like agonists, allosteric modulators as well as molecules reducing receptor desensitization and internalization.

“Polyphor’s innovative technology platforms, PEMfinder® and MacroFinder®, have proven to generate promising PEMdrug candidates and highly potent and selective novel molecular entities, even on challenging biological targets such as protein-protein interactions, GPCRs, ion-channels and the like. This EU funded research partnership will provide the opportunity to apply these technologies to a complex target addressing the potential treatment of diabetes. If this research program yields promising GLP-1R modulators, Axxam and Polyphor will aim to establish a research alliance with a Pharma partner for the further development and commercialization of such products,“ said Dr. Daniel Obrecht, Chief Scientific Officer at Polyphor.

With the advantages given by the combination of these assets, Axxam and Polyphor will probe the GLP-1R for molecules addressing different mechanisms of action, including allosteric modulators or inhibitors for receptor desensitization.