The research program is aimed at accelerating the advancement of an SVP immunotherapy designed to reset the immune system and restore tolerance to substances (antigens) that cause the immune attacks on insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
Selecta claims that its tolerogenic SVP products show potential to re-educate the immune system to stop or suppress pro-inflammatory responses against a specific antigen.
Under the deal, JDRF and Sanofi are co-financing the program with the aim of advancing the SVP product candidate to the clinic.
The next phase of the SVP development program has been structured as a grant award to Selecta in order to test around four antigens that may succeed in stopping the autoimmune response that destroys beta cells.
Selecta president and CEO Werner Cautreels said the agreement with JDRF and Sanofi is a next step in the company’s research to advance SVP in type 1 diabetes.
"Selecta’s proprietary SVP platform has broad applications in tolerance and Selecta is now active in multiple areas of high medical need, including undesired immune responses to biological drugs, and gene therapy, allergies, and autoimmune diseases," Cautreels said.