Nordic Life Science 1
linical data has shown that the hyperactivation o
f the STING pathway correlates with the disease severity. “For this reason we are working on biomarker assays to help identify patients with STING pathway hyperactivation. Laboratory and animal data shows that ISD017 binds directly to STING and suppresses all downstream biological activity. It also shows that ISD017 prevents the development of lupus in several independent mouse models of lupus where full protection from kidney damage among other benefits has been demonstrated. Furthermore, ISD017 has been shown to block IFN signaling and reduce IFN gene signatures in severe lupus patient blood samples. This supports the likelihood that the treatment will also work in humans,” says Heitner. Today severe SLE patients are given cocktails of immunosuppressants and glucocorticoids, which have serious side effects, some of which are worse than the disease, she describes. “So the market is wide open for severe lupus treatments. Furthermore, several pharmaceutical companies are interested in pursuing drug development in lupus and we have had several discussions. Currently we are in a strategic research collaboration with a company also in the lupus space.” Tara Heitner was not unfamiliar with the Nordic life science start-up community when she joined ISD Immunotech as CEO in 2018. She has more than 20 years of experience from R&D, management and board positions in this field. Today she divides her time between being CEO of ISD and CEO of the Malmö-based clinical-stage biotech company Cyxone. In 2014 she founded her own consultancy company, focusing on strategic, financing and business development advice for small biotech companies and start-ups where she has facilitated several pharma collaborations and partnerships. She is also the co-founder of a number of start-ups spun out from universities. hat attracted her to ISD was foremost, the “very compelling science and large unmet need in lupus,” she says. “Furthermore, the high professional level of the team itself and the extensive industry experience in successfully establishing and exiting biotech companies was a big attraction.” “The team is also supported by world class academic researchers who are very passionate about this work and its potential for patients. Without their ingenuity ISD would not exist,” she adds. ISD Immunotech recently secured Novo Seeds as its lead investor. This has been a great support, Heitner says. “It gives the company heightened credibility in Europe and in the rest of the world to have Novo Seeds on board and to have their input in our company strategy.”