Diamyd Medical and Cardiff University to collaborate on study monitoring immune response in lymph node cells after administration of Diamyd®
Diamyd Medical today announced a collaboration with Cardiff University on a new study with the diabetes vaccine Diamyd®. The aim of the study is to optimize methods based on ultrasound guided lymph node biopsies for monitoring the cellular immune response to immunotherapy. The study is financed by Cardiff University while Diamyd Medical is supplying the study drug.
Diamyd® will be administered intradermally in 12 patients with type 1 diabetes and the immune response will be monitored directly in the lymphatic fluid through ultrasound guided lymph node biopsies. Intradermal administration (via the skin) like direct intra-lymph-node administration of autoantigens, such as GAD, is believed to significantly enhance antigen specific tolerization, as compared to subcutaneous administration (under the skin). Chief Investigator is Professor Colin Dayan and Principal Investigator is Dr. Danijela Tatovic.
“We are very pleased with the interest in our diabetes vaccine and that Cardiff University, a leader in type 1 diabetes, chooses Diamyd® for its new study. The study fits well with Diamyd Medical’s focus on more direct immunomodulation as in the upcoming randomized DIAGNODE-2 and in the very promising open label DIAGNODE-1 study," says Ulf Hannelius, CEO of Diamyd Medical.
“This is the first study to monitor the immune response directly in the draining lymph node cells when a native protein like GAD is administered intradermally,” says Professor Colin Dayan, Chief Investigator of the study. “We are thankful for Diamyd Medical granting us access to their recombinant GAD based vaccine that is showing great promise in preserving insulin production in type 1 diabetes patients.”
About Diamyd Medical
Diamyd Medical is dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes and other serious inflammatory diseases through pharmaceutical development and investments in stem cell and medical technology.
Diamyd Medical develops the diabetes vaccine Diamyd®, for antigen-specific immunotherapy based on the exclusively licensed GAD-molecule. Four clinical trials are ongoing with Diamyd®. The Company's trial DIAGNODE-2, where the diabetes vaccine is administered directly into the lymph node, is expected to start recruiting patients in the fall. An exclusive license for GABA for the treatment of diabetes and inflammatory diseases constitutes alongside with the diabetes vaccine a key asset in Diamyd Medical and the Company uses its GABA in-licensed technology to develop a GABA drug product. Diamyd Medical is one of the major shareholders in the stem cell company NextCell Pharma AB. Diamyd Medical also has holdings in the medtech company Companion Medical, Inc., San Diego, USA and in the gene therapy company Periphagen, Inc., Pittsburgh, USA.
Diamyd Medical’s B-share is traded on Nasdaq First North under the ticker DMYD B. FNCA Sweden AB is the Company’s Certified Adviser.
For further information, please contact:
Ulf Hannelius, President and CEO
Phone: +46 736 35 42 41
E-mail: ulf.hannelius@diamyd.com
Diamyd Medical AB (publ)
Kungsgatan 29, SE-111 56 Stockholm, Sweden. Phone: +46 8 661 00 26, Fax: +46 8 661 63 68
E-mail: info@diamyd.com. Reg. no.: 556242-3797. Website: www.diamyd.com.
This information is information that Diamyd Medical AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at x15:15 CET on August 10, 2017