BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Porosome Therapeutics, Inc. (Porosome Therapeutics) has announced a new and distinctive therapy for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) targeting the insulin secretory defects founds in beta cells associated with the disease. Porosome Therapeutics’ approach addresses the cell's secretory machinery.
Porosome Therapeutics Founder and Chairman Professor Bhanu P. Jena discovered a new cellular structure called the porosome nearly three decades ago. After its discovery, the porosome was isolated and its structure and composition determined before porosomes were successfully inserted into cells to enhance secretion. This groundbreaking discovery provides a platform for diabetes treatments, as well as other secretory disorders such as cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer’s, and certain cancers. This approach is novel in that it provides the ability to target undruggable proteins, which make up almost 85% of the human proteome.
“Identifying effective approaches to find therapeutic solutions to undruggable proteins is our major focus,” said Jena. “By targeting beta cells and incorporating additional insulin-secreting porosomes, we are able to restore the cell’s ability to secrete insulin. Similarly, a major issue in treating T1D using beta cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), is the inability of these beta cells to optimally secrete insulin in response to a glucose challenge. Consequently, a large number of such beta cells derived from iPSC are required for a transplant, a major issue. This can be overcome by reconstituting insulin-secreting porosomes to the iPSC derived beta cells prior to a transplant. Our solution is a promising advancement in treating diabetes.”
Porosome Therapeutics' has two novel therapeutic approaches. The first is the proprietary approach of “porosome-reconstitution therapy,” where insulin-secreting porosomes are introduced into the cell plasma membrane of stem cell-derived beta cells. This approach has been demonstrated in published studies to enhance glucose-stimulated insulin secretion.
The second proprietary approach is the use of a porosome-targeted small molecule capable of both insulin synthesis and secretion from beta cells. When combined with Metformin, a widely used medication for T2D, it could offer a powerful therapeutic approach to manage and treat T2D.
“These groundbreaking developments to treat diabetes directly address insulin secretion in cells and provide tremendous promise for people with diabetes,” said Guillermo Marmol, CEO, Porosome Therapeutics. “While the porosome was discovered nearly three decades ago, our esteemed team of researchers has now unlocked its therapeutic potential in treating diabetes and a wide range of debilitating diseases.”
About Porosome Therapeutics, Inc.
Porosome Therapeutics Inc. is a Boston-based biopharmaceutical company utilizing breakthrough discovery and novel technologies to identify and create patent-pending high-value therapeutics for currently undruggable porosome protein relating to secretory and hydration disorders such as cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and cancer. Porosome Therapeutics is the first company with a technology platform that develops novel therapies targeting the porosome, the universal secretory machinery in cells. This platform is based on decades of research supported by more than 200 publications and is effective against many serious diseases involving secretory defects. The platform also specializes in highly specific nanobody-mediated targeted therapies that greatly reduce drug side effects.
Porosome Therapeutics Leadership
Bhanu P. Jena, PhD, Founder and Chairman
Distinguished Professor Dr. Bhanu P. Jena is a leading cell biologist and chemist who has made seminal contributions to the understanding of cell secretion, membrane fusion, and transport. He is currently the Founder and Chairman of Porosome Therapeutics, Inc. A full biography can be found here.
Guillermo (Gil) Marmol, President and CEO
As President and Chief Executive Officer, of Porosome Therapeutics, Inc. Gil Marmol applies his broad and unique wealth of strategic planning, development, and operations experience to bring groundbreaking science and technology to market to treat previously intractable and undruggable conditions. A full biography can be found here.
