55pharma’s enabling technology platform provides the ability to discover potential first-in-class small molecule drugs descended from nature and to maintain a product pipeline which is developed in-house and used as a basis for future Big Pharma partnerships. We focus on type 2 diabetes, one of today’s blockbuster indications. Experts forecast heavy growth, e.g., the WHO expects the number of patients worldwide to reach 370 million in 2030, the reason being that the medical need is by no means satisfied: For about 75% of patients, the desired level of metabolic control cannot be achieved with a current gold standard drug, and even worse, all drugs exhibit frequent or severe side effects. As a consequence, the need for innovative treatment options subsists.
...with first-in-class drug candidates in development
To date, our portfolio consists of two (in-vivo active) plant-derived substance groups in pre-clinical development and additional two drug candidate sources in exploratory stage. We have filed international patents for a product group from our most advanced development program. It comprises compounds with novel chemical structures active via an innovative anti-diabetic mode of action. To put this into perspective: In 2007, about 80 drugs have been approved by the FDA. From these, only 16 have qualified as a New Molecular Entity (NME), a unique compound that has not previously been approved. Only a fraction of these is targeted to a blockbuster therapeutic area. 55pharma’s most advanced compound family resembles a NME in the blockbuster indication type 2 diabetes.
55pharmaDrug Discovery & Development AGPalais Pálffy, Josefsplatz 61010 Vienna, AustriaTZT, Technopark 13430 Tulln, AustriaPhone:Fax:Email: