Galmed Pharmaceuticals Teams Up with VCU to Combat GI Cancer Drug Resistance
Galmed Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (Nasdaq: GLMD), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has announced a significant collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) on April 17, 2025. This partnership aims to investigate the efficacy of Aramchol, a groundbreaking SCD1 inhibitor, in overcoming challenges posed by drug resistance in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. The Sponsored Project Agreement enables researchers at VCU to conduct studies that will explore Aramchol's potential when used alongside standard treatments for advanced colorectal and liver cancers.
GI cancers, particularly colorectal and hepatocellular (liver) cancers, represent a crucial healthcare challenge due to their high mortality rates and limited treatment options exacerbated by drug resistance. Research published in Nature Communications has revealed the pivotal role of lipid metabolism in influencing drug resistance, specifically implicating the SCD1 enzyme. This study lays the groundwork for Galmed’s efforts to leverage Aramchol's unique mechanism of action to offer new strategies to reverse resistance in cancer therapies.
The collaborative project will delve into preclinical models of advanced GI malignancies to evaluate whether Aramchol can prevent or reverse resistance to existing therapies, including targeted kinase inhibitors and chemotherapies. The results of this research could shed light on how to enhance the effectiveness of these treatments in combating aggressive tumors.
Dr. Paul Dent, a professor at VCU’s School of Medicine, emphasized the pressing need to address drug resistance in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Current second-line treatments like tyrosine kinase inhibitors often yield limited long-term benefits due to rapid onset of resistance, making HCC especially perilous. The collaborative research seeks to determine if Aramchol, in conjunction with FDA-approved drugs, can effectively disrupt the mechanisms that lead to this resistance.
In recent years, HCC treatment has shown stagnation in mortality reduction rates. While tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been crucial, their effectiveness is often compromised by the evolving landscape of drug resistance. Galmed’s research initiative aims not only to tackle the resistance mechanisms but also to explore the potential of a groundbreaking combination therapy that could shift standard treatment paradigms.
Additionally, the collaboration marks a strategic shift for Galmed as it expands its focus from liver disease to oncology, signifying a move toward addressing significant unmet medical needs in cancer therapies. Presented as a promising dual-action oral therapy, Aramchol’s safe profile was previously demonstrated in trials for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and fibrosis, hence paving its way into cancer therapy.
The CEO of Galmed, Allen Baharaff, commented on how important this collaboration is in aligning with the company's vision of discovering innovative and cost-effective solutions for conditions with high unmet demand. He identifies HCC as a critical area where advancements have lagged due to drug resistance and where Aramchol could provide a uniquely beneficial option.
Through this partnership, both Galmed and VCU aim to generate compelling proof-of-concept data that could accelerate clinical development in oncology and potentially enhance market prospects for Aramchol. With patent protection extending through 2035, the initiative also offers a promising avenue for commercial viability.
Overall, this collaborative effort between Galmed Pharmaceuticals and Virginia Commonwealth University embodies hope for patients battling GI cancers, addressing the urgent need for effective treatment options against the backdrop of existing drug resistance challenges. An innovative research approach such as this could transform the landscape for cancer patients requiring new therapies where options are currently scarce.
GI cancers, particularly colorectal and hepatocellular (liver) cancers, represent a crucial healthcare challenge due to their high mortality rates and limited treatment options exacerbated by drug resistance. Research published in Nature Communications has revealed the pivotal role of lipid metabolism in influencing drug resistance, specifically implicating the SCD1 enzyme. This study lays the groundwork for Galmed’s efforts to leverage Aramchol's unique mechanism of action to offer new strategies to reverse resistance in cancer therapies.
The collaborative project will delve into preclinical models of advanced GI malignancies to evaluate whether Aramchol can prevent or reverse resistance to existing therapies, including targeted kinase inhibitors and chemotherapies. The results of this research could shed light on how to enhance the effectiveness of these treatments in combating aggressive tumors.
Dr. Paul Dent, a professor at VCU’s School of Medicine, emphasized the pressing need to address drug resistance in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Current second-line treatments like tyrosine kinase inhibitors often yield limited long-term benefits due to rapid onset of resistance, making HCC especially perilous. The collaborative research seeks to determine if Aramchol, in conjunction with FDA-approved drugs, can effectively disrupt the mechanisms that lead to this resistance.
In recent years, HCC treatment has shown stagnation in mortality reduction rates. While tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been crucial, their effectiveness is often compromised by the evolving landscape of drug resistance. Galmed’s research initiative aims not only to tackle the resistance mechanisms but also to explore the potential of a groundbreaking combination therapy that could shift standard treatment paradigms.
Additionally, the collaboration marks a strategic shift for Galmed as it expands its focus from liver disease to oncology, signifying a move toward addressing significant unmet medical needs in cancer therapies. Presented as a promising dual-action oral therapy, Aramchol’s safe profile was previously demonstrated in trials for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and fibrosis, hence paving its way into cancer therapy.
The CEO of Galmed, Allen Baharaff, commented on how important this collaboration is in aligning with the company's vision of discovering innovative and cost-effective solutions for conditions with high unmet demand. He identifies HCC as a critical area where advancements have lagged due to drug resistance and where Aramchol could provide a uniquely beneficial option.
Through this partnership, both Galmed and VCU aim to generate compelling proof-of-concept data that could accelerate clinical development in oncology and potentially enhance market prospects for Aramchol. With patent protection extending through 2035, the initiative also offers a promising avenue for commercial viability.
Overall, this collaborative effort between Galmed Pharmaceuticals and Virginia Commonwealth University embodies hope for patients battling GI cancers, addressing the urgent need for effective treatment options against the backdrop of existing drug resistance challenges. An innovative research approach such as this could transform the landscape for cancer patients requiring new therapies where options are currently scarce.
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