Galecto Biotech

Galecto Biotech is a Swedish biotechnology company that has developed a galectin-3 inhibitor that would prevent fibrosis.[1] The galectin-3 inhibitor, TD139, has the potential to treat many diseases due to its involvement in many key biological pathways such as cell differentiation, cell growth, and apoptosis.[2] Galecto Biotech is using this inhibitor to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which is a progressive, irreversible and ultimately fatal lung disease that has poor prognosis and no effective therapies.[1][2][3] Transforming growth factor is a major mediator of fibrosis and galectin-3 expression is highly upregulated in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.[2] TD139 galectin-3 inhibitor, reduces the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signalling, ultimately showing a strong anti-fibrotic potential that may provide a novel treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Garber, K (2013). "Galecto Biotech.". Nature Biotechnology 31 (6): 481. doi:10.1038/nbt0613-481. PMID 23752421.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 MacKinnon, A (2012). "Regulation of Transforming Growth Factor-β1–driven Lung Fibrosis by Galectin-3". American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, 185 (5): 537–546. doi:10.1164/rccm.201106-0965oc.
  3. ↑ Raghu, G (2011). "An official ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT statement: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: evidence-based guidelines for diagnosis and management.". American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 183 (6): 788–824. doi:10.1164/rccm.2009-040gl.