Pharmaceutical Industry Experience In Drug Discovery And Scientific Management
EuMederis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is focused on the design of novel, Best-in-Class peptide pharmaceuticals with improved bioavailability and efficacy in patients. These preclinical development candidates make use of our broadly-based, proprietary technology platform (EuPort™) for the improvement of peptide drug action. This technology makes use of novel glycolipid modifications to provide protease protection, improved therapeutic index and a very prolonged duration of action (typically once daily or once weekly administration).
Initial products are directed at indications in pain, control of osteoporosis/hypoparathyroidism and reversal of the inflammatory components of the metabolic syndrome.
Peptide hormones were among the earliest signals regulating multi-cellular organisms and play critical roles controlling bodily functions from bacteria to yeast to man.
For example, peptide hormones from the intestine regulate many aspects of our interaction with food (hunger, satiety, motility) and control blood glucose levels (glucagon, GLP-1, GIP, etc.). While these roles are not yet completely understood, multiple important pharmaceuticals have resulted from early work in the area.
Similarly, peptide signals from fat cells (cytokines, chemokines, adipokines, exerkines, etc.) regulate many of the actions that control energy storage and the inflammatory state related to obesity and diabetes.
In addition, peptide hormones from the brain coordinate “tone” in the body, modulating response to stress as well as many basic bodily functions (fluid and electrolyte balance, parturition, sexual cycles, growth, feeding, et al.)
In short, research to generate peptide hormone analogs with much improved, marketable pharmaceutical action (drug-like) is a remarkably rich field for drug discovery.
EuMederis has carried out proof of concept studies in multiple areas that have “blockbuster” clinical potential and seeks investors as well as development partners for selected clinical candidates.
To find out more, please see the About Us, Research and Pipeline pages.
Research
The novel EuMederis platform technology (EuPort™) had not been used previously in peptide analog design and is directed at improvements in peptide therapeutics’ bioavailability, therapeutic index and duration of action. This technology is designed to improve the pharmaceutical properties and developability of peptide hormones/leads, allowing improved administration of peptides by subcutaneous, intranasal, and oral routes. Broad intellectual property protection has been obtained for the EuPort™ modification and its novelty can lead to strong IP protection of molecules utilizing it.
When used for subcutaneous administration, EuPort™-modified products form a micellar/liquid crystal depot and then reversibly bind to serum albumin for prolonged circulation in the body (fully flexible for targeted pharmacodynamic profiles lasting hours to days to weeks).
Transmucosal bioavailability is facilitated by the surfactant-like character of the EuPort™ modification and its presentation to binding partners in a somewhat constrained manner.
To find out more, please see the About Us, Research and Pipeline pages.
OSTEOPOROSIS
Although there are many therapeutics that slow the loss of bone, only the parathyroid hormone (PTH)/parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) family provides dramatic increases in bone density. Nonetheless, the current use of PTH requires daily, long-term use of subcutaneous injections and may not be well-received by all patients. Similarly, in treatment of hypoparathyroidism, a smooth infusion-like pharmacokinetic profile is preferred for reduced side effects. Our EuPort™-modified PTHrP analogs have such a profile as well as other advantages, such as for bioavailability.
Pain
Alleviation of pain remains one of the central challenges to physicians and many candidates have been investigated. Nonetheless, it remains an area with major unmet medical needs. Current treatment continues to rely on opiates, with their inherent side effects: respiratory depression, somnolence, tolerance, addiction potential, and constipation. We have analogs designed for peripheral-only function and more prolonged duration of action.
METABOLIC SYNDROME
Obesity, and the resultant Metabolic Syndrome (insulin resistance, diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis), has become a worldwide epidemic and is responsible for one of the largest categories of healthcare costs in developed countries. Obesity results in a systemic inflammatory state that drives the downstream sequela. EuMederis is carrying out drug design work addressing multiple mechanisms involved in the development of the Metabolic Syndrome.
PARTNERSHIPS
The EuPort™ technology was the subject of a licensing agreement with Spitfire Pharma, Inc., a Velocity Pharmaceutical Development-backed drug development company operating in the diabetes space. This partnership resulted in a EuPort™-modified, highly potent, GLP-1/glucagon dual receptor agonist (variously SP-1373/ALT-801/pemvidutide). EuMederis is seeking research partnerships outside of the incretin space.
Breadth of Application
A number of additional projects are in the design and patent filing stages. If your company has an interest in peptide hormones, your project may already be in planning at EuMederis Pharmaceuticals. We encourage you to start the conversation about a target of interest to your company.
About Pipelines
Eumederis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Is Focused On Peptide Pharmaceuticals With Improved Bioavailability And Dosing Schedules. Initial Products Are Directed At Indications In Pain, In Control Of Osteoporosis, And In The Reversal Of The Inflammatory Component Of The Metabolic Syndrome.
The Medicinal Chemistry Of Peptides
Nestor, J.J., Jr. (2009) Curr Med Chem 16(33): Pp4399-4418.
The Shortcomings Of Native Peptides As Pharmaceuticals Have Been Long Known: Short Duration Of Action, Lack Of Receptor Selectivity, Lack Of Oral Bioavailability. However Medicinal Chemistry Offers Solutions To The First Two Limitations And Oral Bioavailability Issues Have Been Addressed With Novel Routes Of Administration (E.G. Intranasal, Inhalation) And Injectable Depot Formulations. The Principal Issue For Peptide Drugs Has Been A Short Duration Of Action, Widely Assumed To Be Due To Proteolysis.
While Proteolysis Is A Problem For Native Peptide Structures, Modification Of The Peptide Structure By Acylation, Pegylation, Unnatural Amino Acids Or Restricted Conformation Can Largely Remove This Issue.
The Medicinal Chemistry Of Peptides
Nestor, J.J., Jr. (2009) Curr Med Chem 16(33): Pp4399-4418.
The Shortcomings Of Native Peptides As Pharmaceuticals Have Been Long Known: Short Duration Of Action, Lack Of Receptor Selectivity, Lack Of Oral Bioavailability. However Medicinal Chemistry Offers Solutions To The First Two Limitations And Oral Bioavailability Issues Have Been Addressed With Novel Routes Of Administration (E.G. Intranasal, Inhalation) And Injectable Depot Formulations. The Principal Issue For Peptide Drugs Has Been A Short Duration Of Action, Widely Assumed To Be Due To Proteolysis.
While Proteolysis Is A Problem For Native Peptide Structures, Modification Of The Peptide Structure By Acylation, Pegylation, Unnatural Amino Acids Or Restricted Conformation Can Largely Remove This Issue.
The Medicinal Chemistry Of Peptides
Nestor, J.J., Jr. (2009) Curr Med Chem 16(33): Pp4399-4418.
The Shortcomings Of Native Peptides As Pharmaceuticals Have Been Long Known: Short Duration Of Action, Lack Of Receptor Selectivity, Lack Of Oral Bioavailability. However Medicinal Chemistry Offers Solutions To The First Two Limitations And Oral Bioavailability Issues Have Been Addressed With Novel Routes Of Administration (E.G. Intranasal, Inhalation) And Injectable Depot Formulations. The Principal Issue For Peptide Drugs Has Been A Short Duration Of Action, Widely Assumed To Be Due To Proteolysis.
While Proteolysis Is A Problem For Native Peptide Structures, Modification Of The Peptide Structure By Acylation, Pegylation, Unnatural Amino Acids Or Restricted Conformation Can Largely Remove This Issue.
