Galmed Pharmaceuticals Ltd. announced a research collaboration with Ramot, the technology‑transfer arm of Tel Aviv University, to evaluate its brain‑penetrating stearoyl‑CoA desaturase‑1 (SCD1) inhibitor, Aramchol, as a targeted therapy for metastatic brain cancers.
The partnership brings together the genomic expertise of Prof. Uri Ben‑David’s Ben‑David Lab and the advanced 3‑D in‑vitro and in‑vivo modeling capabilities of Prof. Ronit Satchi‑Fainaro’s Satchi‑Fainaro Lab. Together, the teams will assess Aramchol’s efficacy against p53‑deficient brain metastases, a setting in which SCD1 is up‑regulated and altered fatty‑acid metabolism supports tumor colonization of the brain.
By extending Aramchol’s clinical development into oncology, Galmed seeks to broaden its pipeline beyond its NASH program and create new revenue opportunities. The collaboration also positions Galmed to leverage Tel Aviv University’s strong translational platform and could accelerate preclinical validation of Aramchol in a high‑need indication.
Galmed is a clinical‑stage biopharmaceutical company with no current revenue from approved products and significant research and development expenses. The announcement is a strategic pivot that could diversify the company’s pipeline and provide a new avenue for future commercialization, although the company’s cash runway and financial position remain a key consideration for investors.
The collaboration builds on Galmed’s recent development of a brain‑penetrating formulation of Aramchol, created in partnership with Barcode Nanotech, which uses lipid nanoparticles to cross the blood‑brain barrier. The partnership also supports Galmed’s ongoing clinical work at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center in colorectal cancers, where p53 mutations are common.
The announcement was well received by investors, reflecting enthusiasm for the potential of Aramchol in a high‑unmet‑need oncology indication and the strategic value of the partnership with a leading academic institution.
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