French Biotech Company AdipoPharma Secures Funding to Initiate Clinical Trials for its first-in-class compound for Insulin Resistance
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
AdipoPharma, a biotech company based in France with offices in the US and Belgium, announced today it has successfully secured the funding required to commence Phase 1 clinical trials for its promising new Type 2 diabetes treatment. The company is set to begin these trials in the U.S. in mid-2025.
This critical funding marks a major milestone for AdipoPharma, enabling the accelerated clinical development of its first-in-class compound that directly targets insulin resistance, the root cause of Type 2 diabetes. The funding round included contributions from prominent global investors, such as:
Newton Biocapital
Sambrinvest
Investsud
Okeanos
Good Growth Capital
Alain Parthoens, CEO of Newton Biocapital, commented, “AdipoPharma’s mission to deliver a groundbreaking treatment for Type 2 diabetes by focusing on insulin resistance has the potential to transform millions of lives worldwide. We’re thrilled to support the company as it moves into Phase 1 trials.”
Amy Salzhauer, Managing Partner at Good Growth Capital, added, “PATAS represents the first major therapeutic breakthrough in Type 2 diabetes treatment in over a decade. We’re proud to support AdipoPharma’s efforts to advance this much-anticipated treatment to market.”
Aaron Berkey, Managing Partner at Okeanos, shared, “AdipoPharma’s vision to alter the course of diabetes treatment addresses a significant global health issue impacting millions. We are honored to support Dr. Marion and his world-class team.”
AdipoPharma’s lead compound, PATAS, takes a novel approach to treating Type 2 diabetes. Unlike most current drugs, which primarily address symptoms, PATAS is designed as a whole-body insulin sensitizer that targets insulin resistance itself. By improving glucose uptake in impaired fat cells, or adipocytes, PATAS aims to restore healthy lipid biosynthesis, leading to improved glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and addressing complications such as diabetic neuropathy, cardiovascular issues, liver disease, and muscle loss.
The company was founded by Vincent Marion, PhD, MSc, a biochemist and researcher at INSERM, the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research. Dr. Marion has spent the past decade studying the essential role of adipocytes in Type 2 diabetes, which he explored through research on rare genetic diseases. “PATAS represents a breakthrough in our quest to treat insulin resistance, the primary cause of Type 2 diabetes,” said Dr. Marion. “We are deeply grateful to our investors for supporting us as we move into clinical trials, with a vision of creating a future where Type 2 diabetes is no longer a life sentence.”
With strong backing from French government-sponsored organizations promoting French science globally, AdipoPharma has gained significant support from the French biotech ecosystem. Emmanuel Poteaux, Acting CEO of SATT Conectus, said, “The French biotech community has closely supported AdipoPharma’s journey, and we’re thrilled to see Dr. Marion and his team take the next step toward clinical trials.”
Dr. Marion has assembled an accomplished team of pharmaceutical executives, former FDA officials, and renowned academics to drive PATAS’s development. AdipoPharma’s scientific advisory board includes esteemed experts in Type 2 diabetes, such as:
Dr. Paul Zimmet, scientific advisory board chair and pioneer in diabetes and obesity research
Dr. G. Alexander (Zan) Fleming, former senior endocrinologist at the FDA
Dr. Alan Cherrington, past president of the American Diabetes Association
Dr. Ralph DeFronzo, Chief of the Diabetes Division at the Texas Diabetes Institute
With over 500 million people affected globally and projections reaching 1.3 billion by 2050, Type 2 diabetes remains a leading cause of kidney disease, amputations, and premature deatharma’s innovative approach aims to address this global crisis through a direct attack on insulin resistance.
Source: globenewswire.com
