October 30, 2023 (BOSTON) – Porosome Therapeutics, Inc. (Porosome Therapeutics) has announced a new and distinctive therapy for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) targeting the insulin secretory defects found in beta cells associated with the disease. Porosome Therapeutics’ approach addresses the cell's secretory machinery.
Porosome Therapeutics Founder and Chairman Professor Bhanu P. Jena discovered a new cellular structure called the porosome nearly three decades ago. After its discovery, the porosome was isolated and its structure and composition determined before porosomes were successfully inserted into cells to enhance secretion. This groundbreaking discovery provides a platform for diabetes treatments, as well as other secretory disorders such as cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer’s, and certain cancers. This approach is novel in that it provides the ability to target undruggable proteins, which make up almost 85% of the human proteome.
“Identifying effective approaches to find therapeutic solutions to undruggable proteins is our major focus,” said Jena. “By targeting beta cells and incorporating additional insulin-secreting porosomes, we are able to restore the cell’s ability to secrete insulin. Similarly, a major issue in treating T1D using beta cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), is the inability of these beta cells to optimally secrete insulin in response to a glucose challenge. Consequently, a large number of such beta cells derived from iPSC are required for a transplant, a major issue. This can be overcome by reconstituting insulin-secreting porosomes to the iPSC derived beta cells prior to a transplant. Our solution is a promising advancement in treating diabetes.”
Porosome Therapeutics' has two novel therapeutic approaches. The first is the proprietary approach of “porosome-reconstitution therapy,” where insulin-secreting porosomes are introduced into the cell plasma membrane of stem cell-derived beta cells. This approach has been demonstrated in published studies to enhance glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. The second proprietary approach is the use of a porosome-targeted small molecule capable of both insulin synthesis and secretion from beta cells. When combined with Metformin, a widely used medication for T2D, it could offer a powerful therapeutic approach to manage and treat T2D...Porosome Therapeutics' Press Release -
