PILA PHARMA

For decades researchers have been working with varied success to understand and intercept the signalling pathways involved in diabetes and its co-morbidities, with the ultimate goal to reverse disease progression rather than just slowing it down. Now, new evidence suggests that TRPV1-expressing sensory neurons may play a pivotal role in initiating and maintaining the inflammatory component of T2D, meaning potential treatment could lie in the use of TRPV1 antagonists. This is the goal of PILA Pharma, a clinical stage pharmaceutical company based in Malmö, Sweden. The company is developing a second-generation TRPV1 antagonist, XEN-D0501, as a novel type of oral anti-diabetic agent, and they are currently bringing this to Phase 2 clinical trials. If effective, and with the ongoing support of the diabetes research community, this could be a major breakthrough for the treatment of diabetes – not only providing effective treatment for Type 2 Diabetes, but also having a significant impact on the damage done by the inflammatory effects of the disease – from pancreatitis to diabetic foot.