Date: Mar 06, 2014 Source: Company Data (
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BioKier, Inc. has entered into an exclusive license agreement with UCL Business PLC (UCLB) for the proprietary colon delivery technology (PhloralTM) developed by researchers at the UCL School of Pharmacy.
Phloral™ will be used in the formulation of an anti-diabetes drug, BKR-013, under development by BioKier Inc. BioKier is developing this novel treatment for type 2 diabetes based on the mechanism by which malabsorptive surgeries for obesity, such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery, result in expedient resolution of type 2 diabetes in a majority of patients. BKR-013 is L-glutamine formulated for slow colonic release. BioKier's novel therapeutic will be an oral, once-a-day pill and will address a putative causative factor of diabetes rather than just the symptoms.
George Szewczyk, Chief Executive, BioKier Inc. commented:
"Diabetes is a rapidly growing social and economic health problem. It is also associated with several co-morbidities including cardiovascular disease. BioKier's novel anti-diabetes drug is designed to capture the anti-diabetes effects seen in gastric bypass surgery by delivering a gut hormone-secretagogue to the colon. The UCL Phloral™ coating, which allows for targeted delivery of pharmaceutical ingredients to the colon, is essential for the development of this drug".
Bill Lindsay, Senior Business Manager for UCLB commented:
"UCLB is pleased to announce another significant licence for delivery of therapeutics to the colon using the Phloral™ technology developed in the laboratory of Professor Abdul Basit at the UCL School of Pharmacy. Proven efficacy in targeting the colon combined with ease of manufacture and scale-up mean that Phloral™ is becoming the method of choice for optimal targeting to the colon. We are excited to be working with BioKier towards a safe and effective diabetes treatment.
About BioKier
BioKier is an early-stage pharmaceutical company developing new proprietary drugs for diabetes and related disorders. BioKier has identified a therapeutic opportunity and is developing a novel treatment for type 2 diabetes. This treatment will potentially also have effects in metabolic syndrome and obesity. It was initially observed and is now accepted that bariatric (gastric bypass) surgery improves or resolves diabetes within days, independent of weight loss, in 80+ percent of Type 2 diabetes patients. There is strong evidence that the mechanism of this effect is expedited delivery to the lower gut of certain nutrients which are natural secretagogues for glucoregulatory gut hormones. BioKier has devised a proprietary method to potentially mimic the effects of surgery and to improve or resolve diabetes, without the physical trauma and cost of bariatric surgery. It is expected to be suitable for both obese and non-obese diabetes patients. The treatment acts by stimulating the L-cells in the lower gut with an orally delivered therapeutic and thus correcting the deficiency in secretion of endogenous GLP-1 and other gut hormones, such as PYY, GLP-2, and oxyntomodulin. This treatment will potentially also have beneficial effects in metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and obesity.
http://www.biokier.com/
For further information, please contact: Dr. George Szewczyk CEO of BioKier Inc. george.szewczyk@biokier.com
About UCLB
UCLB is a leading technology transfer company that supports and commercialises research and innovations arising from UCL, one of the UK's top research-led universities.
UCLB has a successful track record and a strong reputation for identifying and protecting promising new technologies and innovations from UCL academics. It invests directly in development projects to maximise the potential of the research and manages the commercialisation process of technologies from the laboratory to market.
UCLB supports UCL's Grand Challenges of increasing UCL's positive impact on and contribution to Global Health, Sustainable Cities, Intercultural Interaction and Human Wellbeing.
