Juvenile Diabetes Foundation enters four-year research collaboration with Novartis-funded organization

SAN DIEGO The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation said Thursday that it has entered into a novel collaborative research agreement with the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation to create a diabetes drug discovery and development platform.

The four-year program is one of the largest and most comprehensive collaborations in the 40 year history of JDRF, a leader in setting the agenda for diabetes research worldwide and the largest charitable funder and advocate of Type 1 research.

The partnership between JDRF and GNF aims to deliver a succession of drug candidates to the clinic over the next four years. The initial focus will be on pancreatic beta cell regeneration and survival, to restore beta cell function in diabetes. The program builds on current JDRF funding at GNF that has resulted in the discovery of beta cell regeneration drug targets and candidates, and allows for the inclusion of JDRF-funded projects and other discoveries into the program.

Based in San Diego, GNF was founded in 1999. Funded by the Novartis Research Foundation, its mission is to develop and apply innovative technologies to the discovery of new biologic processes and new or improved therapeutics for people. With a team of 550 scientists and associates, it has an impressive track record of success in translational research, and has contributed significantly to Novartis' pipeline of therapeutic candidates.

"This agreement with GNF opens exciting new avenues for JDRF to speed the translation of basic research into drugs and treatments for Type 1 diabetes," said Alan J. Lewis, PhD, president and CEO of JDRF. "By creating this highly interactive collaboration with a world class organization with demonstrated expertise in discovering and developing innovative therapeutics for medical needs, we are looking to expand both the targets and the realm of possible treatments that can benefit people living with diabetes."

Projects within the collaboration will be chosen and managed by a combined review committee of JDRF and GNF representatives, with oversight from a Scientific Advisory Board and JDRF volunteers.