Nordic Life Science 1
MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS OF Systemic lupus erythemato
sus SYSTEMIC • Low-grade fever • Photosensitivity PSYCHOLOGICAL • Fatigue • Loss of appetite MOUTH AND NOSE • Ulcers FACE • Butterfly rash MUSCLES • Aches PLEURA • Inflammation PERICARDIUM • Inflammation JOINTS • Arthritis KIDNEYS • Inflammation FINGERS AND TOES • Poor circulation “MEDICAL GALLERY OF MIKAEL HÄGGSTRÖM 2014”. WIKIJOURNAL OF MEDICINE 1 (2). DOI:10.15347/WJM/2014.008 nce funding is secured through a VC or pharma partnership, Heitner and her colleagues plan to conduct Investigational New Drug (IND) enabling studies and develop the asset into the clinic where they will out-license after patient proofof-target engagement or patient proof-of-concept to a strategic partner. “We are on track to enter the clinic in 2023 with the only dual STING-antagonist. We are also considering to develop ISD017 for indications outside lupus, as the STING pathway hyperactivation is relevant in several underserved autoimmune patient populations,” Tara Heitner says. Tara Heitner says that Denmark provides a rich cluster of entrepreneurial activity in the biotech area and especially Copenhagen is a hot spot for biotech startups, with Aarhus developing as a close second. “There are some great incubators and science parks, such as COBIS and Symbion in Copenhagen, which foster a good networking environment. Here it has been easy to find companies to collaborate with, legal support, patent support, R&D support and more.” Just as for other life science companies, the pandemic has caused delays in development. But despite the delays Heitner says ISD is so far on schedule with its activities. “We have adapted to virtual drug development quite easily, as we had been working virtually quite a lot before with half the team in Aarhus and the other half in Copenhagen. Our partners, collaborators and CROs are also abroad.” HOWEVER SHE SAYS that she misses meeting face-to-face with the team and the company’s collaborators. “There will be a big celebration once we can all be together again, which is long overdue.” NLS 54 NORDICLIFESCIENCE.ORG CREDIT HÄGGSTRÖM, MIKAEL (2014)