Berlin, Germany, 10 February 2020: Eternygen GmbH, a privately owned, Berlin-based metabolic diseases company, today announced that it is presenting a poster at the 3rd Global NASH Congress held in London, UK from February 10 - 11, 2020 (ElAgroudy et al.). The presentation provides data from a preclinical study which demonstrates that inhibiting the plasma-membrane tricarboxylate transporter INDY (I'm Not Dead Yet/NaCT), encoded by the longevity gene mIndy/SLC13A5, using a small molecule, is able to reverse nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in a diet induced NASH mouse model.
INDY inhibition (INDYi) significantly reduced transaminase levels ALAT by 59% (146.2±29.2 U/L INDYi, 353.9±37.5 U/L vehicle, P
Prof. Dr. Andreas Birkenfeld, one of Eternygen's scientific founders and a recognized opinion leader in INDY research, said: "For the first time, these studies have validated the therapeutic potential of our target protein INDY in NASH. The data provide proof of concept that regulating intracellular metabolic processes through inhibition of INDY is a feasible approach to treat NASH. The current understanding of the pathophysiology fits nicely with this mode of action. Based on the new experiments and earlier data in INDY knockout mice, we see a unique profile with beneficial effects on early stage NASH, as well as on later stage inflammation and fibrosis as well as cardiovascular risk factors. These are encouraging results and provide new promise for patients and care givers."
In January 2020 Dr. Birkenfeld, Professor of Medicine, saw his research, "Solute Carrier Transporters as Potential Targets for the Treatment of Metabolic Disease" published in the peer-reviewed, Pharmacological Reviews from the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.
In October 2019, Prof. Birkenfeld was appointed Director of the Department of Diabetology, Endocrinology and Nephrology at the University Clinic, Tübingen. He is also now Director of the Helmholtz Center for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases in Tübingen as well as a TransCampus Professor of Diabetes and Reader at King's College London.
Marco Janezic, CEO Eternygen GmbH, said: "These data confirm the unique pleiotropic mechanisms of INDY inhibition in addressing metabolic dysregulation as the root cause of NASH and subsequent complications (incl. inflammation and fibrosis) as well as validating its role in restoring liver function. We are now evaluating the next development steps necessary to bring this drug candidate into the clinic."