« Return to News | R&D Trends

KalVista, JDRF partner to treat diabetic eye disease

Wednesday, January 11, 2012 11:23 AM

KalVista Pharmaceuticals has enlisted the help of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) to further a novel approach KalVista is developing to preserve vision and slow progression of eye disease in type 1 diabetics.

JDRF will provide up to $2.2 million in milestone payments and research expertise to KalVista. The companies hope to advance KalVista’s lead pre-clinical candidate, a plasma kallikrein inhibitor, into human proof-of-concept clinical trials and to generate clinical data that would highlight its potential as an entirely new approach to treating diabetic macular edema (DME).

Plasma kallikrein is an enzyme (a serine protease) that has been identified as a potential therapeutic target in people with diabetic retinopathy. A previous KalVista-JDRF collaboration demonstrated that plasma kallikrein is increased and activated in the vitreous fluid of people with DME. This lead to the current hopes for kallikrein inhibitors.

"JDRF's goal is to have the greatest and fastest positive impact on individuals with type 1 diabetes, which is why we are working to accelerate the translation of novel discoveries in the lab, through clinical evaluation of safety and efficacy, and into commercial development," said Aaron Kowalski, Ph.D., assistant vice president of treatment therapies for JDRF. "What makes our collaboration with KalVista so exciting is that we are gradually seeing this novel therapy, which could represent a whole new approach to treating DME, move from basic research discovery into a potential commercially viable drug with the help of JDRF funding."

Share:          
CLINICAL TRIAL RESOURCES

Search:

NEWS ONLINE ARCHIVE

Browse by:

CWWeekly

December 17

Medici Global says its Alzheimer's Facebook page demonstrates the need for more early detection trials

Analysts: Expect more equity purchases of CROs in 2013

Already a subscriber?
Log in to your digital subscription.

Subscribe to CWWeekly.

The CenterWatch Monthly

January 2013

Parexel celebrates 30 years of change, growth
CRO's founder and chairman reflects on challenges of the past, present and future

Strategies for increasing patient diversity in trials
Sponsors look to improve racial, ethnic recruitment without going overseas

Already a subscriber?
Log in to your digital subscription.

Purchase the January issue.

Subscribe to The CenterWatch Monthly.

December 2012

Publicity, regulation tightening reins on use of KOLs
Debate rages over need to revamp how sponsors use, pay medical experts

Time may be right to makeover the investigator brochure
Size, complexity prevent critical document from being thoroughly read

Already a subscriber?
Log in to your digital subscription.

Purchase the December issue.

Subscribe to The CenterWatch Monthly.

JobWatch centerwatch.com/jobwatch

Featured Jobs

More Jobs

 

Copyright © 1995-2013 CenterWatch.