Astra, Columbia University team to develop diabetes, obesity therapeutics
AstraZeneca of London and Columbia University Medical Center in New York City have entered into a strategic research collaboration in metabolic related diseases, to develop new therapeutics primarily in type 2 diabetes and obesity, with a secondary focus on atherosclerosis and dyslipidaemia.
The preclinical and clinical research will focus on discovering mechanisms and identifying new biological targets for intervention that could be starting points for successful and commercially viable treatments to tackle these diseases that are major risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, according to the collaboration.
“Our mutual focus on novel and translational science is an excellent fit between the two organizations, and active, ongoing scientific exchange will be the basis for this collaboration. We are in the process of establishing the joint project teams that will work to translate biological concepts developed in experimental models to patients, as well as to establish clinical methodologies designed to test novel therapeutic concepts in a timely way in humans,” said Rudolph Leibel, MD, head of molecular genetics and co-director of the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia.
The preclinical and clinical research will focus on discovering mechanisms and identifying new biological targets for intervention that could be starting points for successful and commercially viable treatments to tackle these diseases that are major risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, according to the collaboration.
“Our mutual focus on novel and translational science is an excellent fit between the two organizations, and active, ongoing scientific exchange will be the basis for this collaboration. We are in the process of establishing the joint project teams that will work to translate biological concepts developed in experimental models to patients, as well as to establish clinical methodologies designed to test novel therapeutic concepts in a timely way in humans,” said Rudolph Leibel, MD, head of molecular genetics and co-director of the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia.