Idogen develops tolerogenic cell therapies for the treatment of unwanted activation of the immune system. The company's most advanced program, IDO 8, aims to restore the effect of factor VIII treatment in patients with hemophilia A, the most common type of bleeding disorder.
In clinical phase in the IDO 8 program
In October, the first patient with hemophilia A was enrolled in Idogen’s Phase I/IIa clinical trial. Hemophilia A is caused by a deficiency of FVIII, which requires FVIII replacement therapy to treat and prevent bleeding. 30 percent of patients develop antibodies that inhibit the effect of the treatment – a widespread problem that Idogen wants to solve. The company’s cell therapy ItolDC-028 should induce immune tolerance so that the patient can be treated with FVIII again.
Idogen also sees a number of other applications for the company's technology platform, for example in transplantation, IDO T, as well as autoimmune diseases, IDO AID.
Jan Holgersson takes a seat on the board
Idogen's board currently consists of: Agneta Edberg, Chairman of the Board, and Sharon Longhurst and Christina Herder who is also acting CEO. Now Idogen's board is strengthened with Jan Holgersson in the role of adjunct board member. Holgersson is a professor of Transplantation Immunology at University of Gothenburg and head of the Tissue Typing Laboratory at Sahlgrenska UniversitetssjukhusetHis research focuses, among other things, on understanding the immunological mechanisms behind organ rejection.
Jan Holgersson has previously worked with Idogen in an advisory role and has, among other things, contributed to the mapping of the mechanism of action of cell therapy.
BioStock contacted Jan Holgersson to find out more about his background and what he wants to contribute to Idogen's board.
First of all, could you briefly tell us about yourself and your professional background?
– I am a specialist in clinical immunology, senior physician and medical director at the Tissue Typing Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, where we investigate how well patient and donor match each other immunologically for both organ and stem cell transplantation.
– I hold a professorship in transplantation immunology at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg and research, among other things, the importance of antibodies for organ rejection. Throughout virtually my entire career, I have been interested in entrepreneurship. I co-founded my first of three companies in 1999 and am currently chairman of the board of one of them, VERIGRAFT AB.
»I am a specialist in clinical immunology, senior physician and medical director at the Tissue Typing Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital […] Throughout virtually my entire career, I have been interested in entrepreneurship«
You have been a scientific advisor to Idogen until now. What insights and knowledge have you been able to contribute?
– I think that my medical knowledge and molecular training in immunology, combined with an understanding of regulatory and commercial limitations, means that I may be able to see problems, and solutions to them, from multiple perspectives. Not least regarding how we prioritize between different development activities.
How does your role towards the company change with your new role as an associate board member?
– I look forward to getting a complete picture of the company and contributing to the company's development also on an overall strategic level.
What do you find particularly interesting about Idogen's cell therapy development?
– Cell therapy is a form of therapy that will revolutionize our ability to treat diseases where traditional treatment currently has limited effect. Large pharmaceutical companies are building their own programs for cell therapy, which means that there will be takers for cell therapies developed by smaller companies. The so-called ATMP (advanced therapy medicinal products) field, within which cell therapy is found, is also very hot for investors.
»Cell therapy is a form of therapy that will revolutionize our ability to treat diseases where traditional treatment currently has limited effect«
– Being able to therapeutically exploit the immune system's ability to induce tolerance would revolutionize the treatment of disease conditions caused by unwanted activation of the immune system, such as autoimmune disease or transplant rejection.
In addition to the cell therapy program for hemophilia, Idogen plans to develop a cell therapy to counteract organ rejection. What is the need for such a treatment?
– Today, organ transplant rejection is prevented by generally suppressing the immune system. The disadvantage of this is that patients become susceptible to infection and run an increased risk of developing tumors. With Idogen's IDO T project, the goal is to induce a tolerance that only includes the foreign structures that come with the transplanted organ. In this way, you can reduce the dose of, or completely avoid, general immunosuppressive drugs and thus the side effects you get from them.