Spin-out company to target liver disease
Inflammation expert, Professor Mike McGukin and clinical endocrinologist, Professor John Prins collaborated with immuno-pathologist, Dr Sumaira Hasnain, to develop a potential new therapy for obesity-related liver diseases such as Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The research has been licensed into a new University of Queensland start-up company, Jetra Therapeutics.
| Researchers |
Professor Mike McGuckin |
|---|---|
| Body Part | Liver |
| Equipment Used | Biological drug |
| Process Used | Targeting the liver with engineered cell signalling peptide |
| Research Areas |
Metabolism, Endocrinology, Immunology |
| Disease | Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) & Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) |
| Tags | Obesity, Liver, Clinical trials, Jetra Therapeutics |
| Commercial Partnerships |
Jetra Therapeutics, IP Group Australia |
| Institutions | Mater Research Institue (MRI-UQ), The University of Queensland |
About the Project
Jetra Therapeutics Pty Ltd is commercialising a potential new treatment for obesity-related liver disease with a targeted biologic, which reduces stress in liver cells.
Mater Research Institute (MRI-UQ) researchers based at TRI developed the treatment, which was licensed into the start-up company, Jetra, The University of Queensland’s (UQ) commercialisation company, UniQuest.
The breakthrough discoveries were led by inflammation expert Professor Mike McGuckin, clinical endocrinologist Professor John Prins (who are both now at the University of Melbourne) and UQ immuno-pathologist Dr Sumaira Hasnain.
Dr Hasnain said obesity was a growing and costly problem that often led to chronic disease and underpinned liver diseases such as Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
“NAFLD is typically characterised by excessive fat accumulation in the cells of the liver and can act as a precursor to more serious inflammatory diseases, such as NASH or the end-stage liver disease, cirrhosis,” she said.
“NASH is predicted to overtake hepatitis C viral infection as the leading cause of liver transplantation in advanced economies, yet there are currently no approved therapies specifically for this disease.”
Dr Hasnain said MRI-UQ researchers discovered in pre-clinical tests that targeting the liver with an engineered cell signalling peptide called IL-22 led to a decrease of fat accumulation.
“We now want to further optimise and assess the safety of the therapy, and subsequently undertake clinical trials,” she said.
“Today we start an exciting journey of translation from the bench to the bedside that will be made possible thanks to IP Group’s initial investment.”
TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH - MILESTONE T2
Jetra Therapeutics is planning to further optimise and assess the safety of the therapy and then undertake clinical trials.
> FOR INQUIRIES ABOUT Jetra Therapeutics, CONTACT BEN PHILLIS, DIRECTOR, COMMERCIALISATIOn-LIfe Sciences, UNIQUEST PTY LTD ([email protected])
