A medical research company has partnered with Newcastle University to develop new ways to treat mitochondrial diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Demuris Limited has partnered with the Wellcome Centre for Mitochrondrial Research (WCMR) to develop new treatments using bacteria strains that have been studied by the company.
The two organisations have been working together to screen strains of the actinomycete bacteria to discover whether they can stimulate the growth of mitochondria in cells.
Mitochondria are known as the “power house of cells” and are how the body is able to turn sugars, fats, and proteins into energy. Mitochondrial diseases come about when the cells fail to produce enough energy for the body to work properly.
These diseases affect one in 5,000 people and can cause conditions such as heart, liver and kidney disease, diabetes and neurological problems.
The new agreement between Demuris and WCMR will see the them work together to create new lead compounds that could be used as treatments for mitochondral diseases.
Demuris is a spin-out from Newcastle University which is based in the new Biosphere building at Newcastle Helix, and was founded by Prof Jeff Errington, director of the university’s Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology.
The company specialises in using bacteria to develop new drugs and is currently also engaged in research to discover drug-resistant antibiotics.
Prof Errington said: “Most people are aware of the impending disaster posed by antibiotic resistant bacteria. Development of new antibiotics for treating deadly infections is a long and expensive business, requiring collaborations across many scientific disciplines, both academic and business led.
“This project represents a crucial starting point that could deliver a game changing drug capable of treating vast numbers of patients world wide.”
Established in 2012 the WCMR is a dedicated to research with the aim of preventing and curing mitochondrial disease. The group has close links with the NHS Service for Rare Mitochondrial Disorders of Adults and Children allowing it to move its research into further stages such as clinical trials.
The new partnership has been funded by Morningside, an investment company that focuses on the biotech and invest in companies using science to make new discoveries.
