Follicum has announced that data from studies on human Langerhans islets have shown positive effects on insulin release in line with the previously reported results on beta cells isolated from animals.

The studies were performed through two different collaborations, one with Lund University and one with InSphero, Switzerland and showed similar results.

The company’s development of a peptide-based treatment of diabetes and its complications is proceeding according to plan. Follicum has studied the ability of peptides to induce insulin secretion in Langerhans islets derived from human donors. The studies show that in these ex vivo studies the peptides has the ability to release insulin in line with a GLP-1 analogue. Thus the effect of the peptides on beta cell lines previously reported can be reproduced in human material.

These studies are two of several studies that is presently ongoing to further substantiate the therapeutic value of FOL-peptides in various diabetic complications.

“We are very pleased to be able to report these findings from two different labs. It is important to report effects in human material at an early stage. The results of these studies show that Follicum’s peptides are as potent as a GLP-1 analogue in human material,” says Jan Alenfall, CEO, Follicum.

Photo of Jan Alenfall