Partnership to Develop Studies on Diabetes and Kidney Disease

AstraZeneca  is collaborating with the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) on a three-year project to investigate new therapeutic approaches to type 2 diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). The aim of the collaboration is to advance understanding of the biological mechanisms that underpin these conditions and develop new treatments based on this knowledge.

Under the terms of the collaboration, each project will comprise a joint team of investigators that will work across Inserm sites in Toulouse and Paris, and AstraZeneca’s research hub in Mölndal, Sweden.

The collaboration will focus on three areas: Understanding mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activity as a route to treating CKD; Enhancing tissue sensitivity to insulin; Exploring loss of insulin production.

Marcus Schindler, Head of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Innovative Medicines unit, AstraZeneca said: “Over the last few years AstraZeneca has been focusing on pioneering research into cardiovascular and metabolic disease. By joining forces with Professors Langin, Jaisser and Scharfmann and their eminent research groups at Inserm, we strengthen further this ambition because their focus represents an ideal fit with our research strategy.”

Professor Christian Boitard, Director of the Inserm institute for Physiopathology, Metabolism and Nutrition, said: “This collaboration is focusing our efforts in beta cells, mineralocorticoid receptor and lipids handling by tissues. Combining the AstraZeneca and Inserm scientists, expertise and platforms represents a great opportunity for advancing research in these important fields, with the operational support of Inserm Transfert teams.”