Geneva–(Business Wire / news wire) February 25, 2022 — GliaPharm SA, a biotechnology company that researches and develops new therapies to help treat and prevent neurological diseases, and discoveries in the field of neuroscience are helping to improve patients’ lives. The Wyss Center, a focused nonprofit organization, announced today that it is collaborating to develop a novel treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
One of the hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease is decreased glucose uptake by the brain, known as metabolic slowdown. This metabolic decline occurs before the onset of symptoms and continues throughout the course of the disease. There is no drug yet to solve this problem.
Gliafam’s innovative treatment targets glial cells, the ‘support cells’ of neurons in pathological conditions, to increase the brain’s glucose uptake and increase brain energy metabolism. Gliafam is currently addressing the metabolic problem of an ‘orphan’ neurological disease called glucose transporter-1 deficiency syndrome (GLUT1-DS). This rare disease is characterized by a decrease in glucose entering the brain, causing severe symptoms in children and adults.
Professor Pierre Magistretti, Scientific Founder of Gliapham, said: “Working with the Weiss Center, we will be able to accelerate drug development for several neurological indications related to metabolic dysfunction in the brain, such as Alzheimer’s disease.”
Dr. Richie Kohman, Chief Scientific Officer of the Weiss Center, said: “This partnership is particularly exciting as the Weiss Center uses advanced brain imaging technology to analyze the molecular and cellular effects of a leading candidate molecule for gliapam.” said.
Gliafam plans to test the effects of key candidates in preclinical models of Alzheimer’s disease, bringing the compound to the clinical stage. In addition, using the advanced imaging pipeline of the Weiss Center, a large amount of brain tissue will be analyzed with high-resolution images. Comparing brains before and after treatment at the cellular level to identify clinically relevant biomarkers will enable molecular development for clinical trials.
About GliaPharm
Gliapharm is a Swiss biotechnology company that develops innovative treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders. Founded in 2016 as a spin-off from the laboratory of Professor Pierre Magistretti of the Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL, Switzerland), a leading research institute for brain metabolism and glial cell biology. In 2017, he established a research institute at the Campus Biotech in Geneva, Switzerland. Through its in-house R&D lab and network of select partners, Glaapharm provides the platform needed to develop clinical applications derived from the know-how and fundamental discoveries accumulated through 30 years of academic research. Website: www.gliapharm.com
About Wyss Center
The Weiss Center is a bio and neuroengineering laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland, an independent, non-profit research and development organization dedicated to improving the understanding of the brain, developing treatments and improving the lives of patients.
Weiss Center’s staff work with academic, clinical and industry collaborators to explore innovations and new approaches in neurobiology, neuroimaging and neurotechnology.
The Weiss Center develops equipment and therapies to meet medical needs, with unique insights into brain mechanics and underlying mechanisms of disease treatment.
The Weiss Center was established in 2014 with a large donation from Swiss entrepreneur and philanthropist Hansjörg Wyss. Funding from funders and other institutions helps the Weiss Center achieve its mission quickly. Website: www.wysscenter.ch
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Website: https://wysscenter.ch/
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