Corporate Overview
Diapin Therapeutics is a pre-seed, preclinical development-staged company that was founded to develop a three amino acid peptide for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. Diapin Therapeutics' laboratory and office space are located in the University of Michigan Venture Accelerator in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The company was founded in July of 2011 and the technology was spun off from the University of Michigan in June of 2012.
The company was founded by Dr. Yuqing (Eugene) Chen, M.D., Ph.D. based on technology disclosed to the University of Michigan from Dr. Chen’s laboratory. At the University of Michigan Medical School, Dr. Chen is the Frederick Huetwell Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, Director for the Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, and Vice-Chair for Basic and Translational Research, Department of Cardiac Surgery, with a large research lab in the Cardiovascular Research Center. Dr. Chen is Chairman of Diapin Therapeutics' Scientific Advisory Board and a member of the Board of Directors. Dr. Bruce Markham joined the company after finishing a term as a "Mentor in Residence" with the University of Michigan Office of Technology Transfer. He now serves as Diapin Therapeutics' President and CEO.
Dr. Chen has built his career in the diabetes field and has made significant discoveries including the cloning of the gene for extendin-4. This glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, a.k.a. exenatide (Byetta), controls incretin signaling, the mechanism addressed by the most recent Type 2 diabetes therapies. Dr. Chen’s goal is to translate his research into novel therapies to treat Type 2 diabetes. He has identified an orally active 3 amino acid peptide that controls blood glucose by increasing circulating insulin and GLP-1 levels in response to a glucose challenge. This potential therapy has the advantages of oral delivery and safety over the currently marketed products and has the potential to differentiate in other ways. This peptide, referred to as DT-109, is the first product and the major focus of Diapin Therapeutics. Dr. Chen’s laboratory will continue to pursue basic research related to the mechanism of action (MOA) of DT-109 as well as to study mechanisms that underlie metabolic syndrome.
DT-109 lowers post-parandial blood glucose in three models of Type 2 diabetes as well as mice made insulin resistant by feeding them a high fat diet. In cell culture studies, DT-109 has been shown to stimulate GLP-1 secretion from STC-1 cells and stimulate insulin secretion from ins-1 cells. Based on this mechanism of action, it is expected that DT-109 will have benefits similar to those associated with GLP-1 and GLP-1 mimetics including the potential for weight loss, improved lipid profile, and better blood pressure control. DT-109 acts through a G-protein coupled receptor to elicit its activity.
A funding agreement was signed between Diapin Therapeutics and Beijing SL Pharmaceuticals on September 28, 2011 in which Diapin Therapeutics receives R&D funding in exchange for company equity and rights to market DT-109 in the Chinese market. The two companies will co-develop DT-109 for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.
The company was founded by Dr. Yuqing (Eugene) Chen, M.D., Ph.D. based on technology disclosed to the University of Michigan from Dr. Chen’s laboratory. At the University of Michigan Medical School, Dr. Chen is the Frederick Huetwell Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, Director for the Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, and Vice-Chair for Basic and Translational Research, Department of Cardiac Surgery, with a large research lab in the Cardiovascular Research Center. Dr. Chen is Chairman of Diapin Therapeutics' Scientific Advisory Board and a member of the Board of Directors. Dr. Bruce Markham joined the company after finishing a term as a "Mentor in Residence" with the University of Michigan Office of Technology Transfer. He now serves as Diapin Therapeutics' President and CEO.
Dr. Chen has built his career in the diabetes field and has made significant discoveries including the cloning of the gene for extendin-4. This glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, a.k.a. exenatide (Byetta), controls incretin signaling, the mechanism addressed by the most recent Type 2 diabetes therapies. Dr. Chen’s goal is to translate his research into novel therapies to treat Type 2 diabetes. He has identified an orally active 3 amino acid peptide that controls blood glucose by increasing circulating insulin and GLP-1 levels in response to a glucose challenge. This potential therapy has the advantages of oral delivery and safety over the currently marketed products and has the potential to differentiate in other ways. This peptide, referred to as DT-109, is the first product and the major focus of Diapin Therapeutics. Dr. Chen’s laboratory will continue to pursue basic research related to the mechanism of action (MOA) of DT-109 as well as to study mechanisms that underlie metabolic syndrome.
DT-109 lowers post-parandial blood glucose in three models of Type 2 diabetes as well as mice made insulin resistant by feeding them a high fat diet. In cell culture studies, DT-109 has been shown to stimulate GLP-1 secretion from STC-1 cells and stimulate insulin secretion from ins-1 cells. Based on this mechanism of action, it is expected that DT-109 will have benefits similar to those associated with GLP-1 and GLP-1 mimetics including the potential for weight loss, improved lipid profile, and better blood pressure control. DT-109 acts through a G-protein coupled receptor to elicit its activity.
A funding agreement was signed between Diapin Therapeutics and Beijing SL Pharmaceuticals on September 28, 2011 in which Diapin Therapeutics receives R&D funding in exchange for company equity and rights to market DT-109 in the Chinese market. The two companies will co-develop DT-109 for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.
