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Leading European experts from 14 academic institutions, 8 pharmaceuticalresearch organizations and 1 biotech company in the area of pancreaticss-cells (= the body's own insulin producing cells) officially launched theIMIDIA project. The project is supported by the Innovative MedicinesInitiative (IMI). IMI a unique Public Private Partnership between thepharmaceutical industry (represented by the European Federation ofPharmaceutical Industries and Associations / EFPIA) and the European Union.The EU contributes a total of EUR 1 billion over ten years, which is matchedin-kind by the EFPIA member companies.
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IMIDIA is an important stepping stone in the development of better tools,biomarkers and understanding to enable the development of ss-cell medicines -a key to an ultimate long-term vision: the cure for diabetes. This pandemicdisease of the 21st century currently affects 285 million people worldwide.It is anticipated that this number will rise sharply to affect 439 millionpeople worldwide by 2030 in particular spreading to the younger population.
IMIDIA is a unique collaboration of leading research groups in Europefocusing on the necessary innovation tightly coupled with the applicationsand evaluation of these results to develop new diagnostics, prognostics andtherapeutics. Around 100 researchers operating in 6 different scientific workpackages will focus on novel approaches e.g. imaging biomarkers, systemsbiology and pathway analysis with the goal of developing patient relevantdisease models in vitro and in vivo as well as biomarkers to monitor diseaseprogression and treatment.
"It has been fascinating to see how a powerful consortium has been formedstarting from the different worlds of academic research and thepharmaceutical industry research organizations," Werner Kramer fromsanofi-aventis, Bernard Thorens from University of Lausanne and Alain Ktorzafrom Servier, the "Triumvirate" coordinating IMIDIA, agree. "Guided by asustainable win-win situation for all participants, the collaborative spiritcoupled with the free flow of information and data within the IMIDIA projectteams will support us - the IMIDIA team - in our endeavour to reach theseambitious goals."
About IMIDIA:
The IMIDIA team, led by sanofi-aventis, Servier and the University ofLausanne is working on the generation of novel, patient centric tools,biomarkers, and fundamental knowledge on ss-cell organization to acceleratethe path to improved diabetes management.
The scientific program aims at delivering:
Novel tools for the study of human ss-cell development, function andsurvival; their modulation by potential therapeutic compounds; and for invivo ss-cell imaging.
Biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of ss-cell failure and formonitoring diabetes progression and treatment.
Knowledge on novel pathways and sites that control ss-cell proliferation,differentiation and apoptosis, and on the role of known nutrient regulatedpathways and sites in controlling ss-cell mass and function.
IMIDIA participants are AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, the FrenchAtomic Energy Commission (CEA), Hannover Medical School (MHH), ImperialCollege London, Lilly, the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS),the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Novartis,Novo Nordisk, Roche, sanofi-aventis, Sarl Endocells, Servier, SIB SwissInstitute of Bioinformatics, Vrije University of Brussels, Dresden Universityof Technology, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, University ParisDiderot, University of Pisa.
The close collaboration of academic teams, pharmaceutical companies andbiotechs is providing unique levels of expertise and is forming a strongbasis to reach the IMIDIA project goals.
For further details - please visit: http://www.imidia.org
About IMI:
The Innovative Medicines Initiative is a unique Public PrivatePartnership (PPP) between the pharmaceutical industry represented by theEuropean Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) andthe European Union represented by the European Commission.
IMI's overall goal is to make Europe again the world leader inpharmaceutical research for the benefit of the economy and society, byremoving research bottlenecks in the current drug development process.
For further details - please visit: http://imi.europa.eu/
SOURCE Sanofi-aventis R&D
