Q BioMed Inc. (OTCQB:QBIO) said it has received a European Certificate of Grant for GDF15, a diagnostic marker for determining the severity of glaucoma using the expression levels of Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15) licensed from the Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Determining the severity of glaucoma using this biomarker will aid in treatment decisions for patients diagnosed with and being treated for glaucoma, according to Q BioMed.
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the eye's optic nerve and can result in vision loss and blindness, and is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. However, with early detection and treatment, the eyes can be protected against serious vision loss.
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Testing for glaucoma is based on intraocular pressure (IOP) and perimetry. However, IOP has a huge variation from patient to patient and perimetry is a subjective test. This is why a biomarker to aid in treatment decisions for glaucoma is needed, Q BioMed said.
New York-based Q BioMed noted that no single examination or diagnostic test is currently able to accurately predict disease progression.
Accurate monitoring for disease progression is critical to preserve visual function in glaucoma patients. Today, physicians only have surrogate measures to evaluate glaucomatous neurodegeneration, the company said.
It said GDF15 represents an attractive biomarker for glaucoma with distinct advantages, including early detection, over conventional clinical tests and has the potential to be a first-in-class diagnostic test. GDF15 was discovered by Dr Rajendra Apte, the Paul A Cibis distinguished professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Washington University School of Medicine.
Q BioMed said it and its technology partner Mannin Research Inc are developing therapeutics with novel mechanisms of action, to treat Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma. By offering both a diagnostic and a therapeutic, Q BioMed said it and Mannin are addressing the needs of both patients and physicians, as well as bringing innovation to the global glaucoma market estimated to affect over 100 million patients.
Mannin Research CEO Dr George N Nikopoulos said: "The use of GDF15 as a diagnostic tool to measure the severity and progression of glaucoma nicely complements our programs for the treatment of glaucoma. Our team is excited by the potential game-changing impact that Dr Apte's invention will have on the practice of treating glaucoma. Working with Washington University in St. Louis to receive this patent has been a rewarding experience, and we look forward to addressing the needs of glaucoma patients worldwide with this collaboration in the near term."
Q BioMed describes itself as a commercial-stage biomedical acceleration and development company, focused on licensing and acquiring biomedical assets across the healthcare spectrum.
Contact the author at susie@proactiveinvestors.com