EXTON, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Melior Discovery, Inc. announced today that it has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue studies on the mechanism of Melior’s novel insulin sensitizer, MLR-1023.
An important and distinguishing feature of Melior’s diabetes candidate, MLR-1023, is its ability to improve insulin sensitivity by a mechanism that is distinct from all pre-existing insulin sensitizers. This grant will enable Melior to further progress the understanding of this novel mechanism with potential benefits towards identifying additional follow-on therapeutics that work through this mechanism. In addition, the work is expected to identify new clinical biomarkers that will benefit the design of future clinical studies for candidates of this novel therapeutic category.
“An award from this highly competitive SBIR program is a testimony to the importance and potential breakthrough opportunity associated with a novel insulin sensitizer that does not work through a PPAR mechanism,” said Andrew Reaume, President and CEO of Melior Discovery, Inc. “We are deeply appreciative of the assistance provided by the NIH SBIR program.”
About MLR-1023
MLR-1023 is a repositioned small molecule drug candidate that Melior is developing for the treatment of type II diabetes. Previously, the compound was advanced through Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of gastric ulcers, but was discontinued due to lack of efficacy in that indication. Using its innovative theraTRACE® platform, Melior has uncovered a potential utility of MLR-1023 for the treatment of diabetes. MLR-1023 is expected to be a first-in-class, once-per-day, orally administered drug that reduces blood glucose levels, with a side effect profile that is favorable compared to available therapies. MLR-1023 exerts its glycemic control activity via a novel mechanism, the activation of enzyme lyn kinase, which has been shown to modulate insulin-signaling pathways independently of PPAR mechanisms. Preclinical studies show that MLR-1023 has the potential to lower blood glucose levels more effectively than existing therapies without the risk of hypoglycemia or weight gain. In studies to date it appears safe and well tolerated. Melior is currently evaluating MLR-1023 in Phase II clinical studies together with its partner Bukwang Pharmaceutical Company.
About Melior
Melior Discovery and Melior Pharmaceuticals, its sister company, are leaders in pharmaceutical drug repositioning using the unique theraTRACE® platform comprised of multiplexed in vivo disease models. Melior is using these capabilities to build an internal pipeline of development candidates and also partners with pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies to apply the theraTRACE® platform and its in-depth in vivo pharmacology expertise to their development candidates. Melior Discovery and Melior Pharmaceuticals are privately held and located in Exton, PA. For more information, visit www.meliordiscovery.com.
Research support referred to in press release will be supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R43DK100251. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
