Marcadia Biotech Inc.
This article was originally published in Start Up
Executive Summary
Marcadia Biotech aims to attack diabetes through weight loss. The start-up struck a deal with Merck for a glucagon and GLP-1 dual agonist that suppresses appetite while increasing metabolism in animal obesity models. Marcadia also has a first-in-class GLP-1 and gastric-inhibitory peptide molecule now in Phase 1 testing, again designed to reduce appetite to control diabetes.
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Start-Up Previews (06/2010)
A preview of the emerging health care companies profiled in the current issue of Start-Up. "Altering The Insulin Resistance System" features profiles of Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Limerick BioPharma, Marcadia BIotech and Rhythm Pharmaceuticals. Plus these Start-Ups Across Health Care: nContact Surgical, NormOxys and Thermopeutix.
Catabasis Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Catabasis Pharmaceuticals is drawing on research showing that salicylate, a close relative of aspirin, improves glucose homeostasis in people living with type 2 diabetes. Catabasis hopes that by combining salicylate with optimized forms of omega-3 fatty acids, it can come up with a safe and reimbursable drug that simultaneously inhibits pro-inflammatory pathways and activates anti-inflammatory pathways, with benefits for diabetes, dyslipidemia, and inflammatory diseases.
Altering The Insulin Resistance System
With the US deeply mired in an obesity epidemic, a growing aging population throughout the developed world, and rising rates of obesity, the market for therapeutic agents for metabolic disorders and especially type 2 diabetes will continue to grow. Little wonder that many emerging companies are pursuing innovative metabolic, obesity, and type 2 diabetes programs to supplement those of Big Pharma. We profile four of them in this issue: Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Limerick BioPharma, Marcadia Biotech and Rhythm Pharmaceuticals.