AstraZeneca and the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) have entered a collaboration to investigate new therapeutic approaches to type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
The partnership aims to advance the understanding of biological mechanisms that come with the conditions and develop new treatments based on the findings.
Professor Christian Boitard, director of the Inserm institute for physiopathology, metabolism and nutrition, said: “This collaboration is focusing our efforts in beta cells, mineralocorticoid receptor and lipids handling by tissues.
“Combining the AstraZeneca and Inserm scientists, expertise and platforms represents a great opportunity for advancing research in these important fields, with the operational support of Inserm Transfert teams.”
The combined team will explore pharmacological ways to prevent the release of lipids into the circulation, normalise fat deposition and increase insulin sensitivity in peripheral tissues.
AZ and Inserm will also explore the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activity as a route to treating chronic kidney disease to better understand its complexities as a potential treatment.
Dr Raphael Scharfmann at Inserm will additionally develop models of human beta cells that have lost their ability to produce and release insulin to better understand the biology of this effect and how it can be corrected with treatment.
Marcus Schindler, head of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases innovative medicines unit at AZ, commented: “Over the last few years AstraZeneca has been focusing on pioneering research into cardiovascular and metabolic disease.
“By joining forces with Professors Langin, Jaisser and Scharfmann and their eminent research groups at Inserm, we strengthen further this ambition because their focus represents an ideal fit with our research strategy.”
Earlier this year, AZ teamed up with Harvard University as part of a five-year project to discover new treatments for diabetes.