Novaicos is a new biotech company focused on innovative approach for the therapy of bone-loss related diseases. Novaicos develops its patented active substance, the only immune-derived compound at the state-of-the-art with a relevant role in inhibiting bone erosion even in osteoporosis and in bone metastasis, with potential properties as modularity, reversibility and tolerability.
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A socio-economic burden
Osteoporosis is the most frequent bone metabolic disease in the world, bone osteoporotic fractures severely affect the quality of life of patients and represent a socio-economic burden.
The numbers:
220 millions of persons are affected by osteoporosis; every year 9 million osteoporotic fractures occurs in the world , this means a fracture every 3 second, the incidence of this disease will increase of about +300% in 2050.
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Mission
NOVAICOS Srls works on innovative solutions against bone erosion, with particular focus on osteoporosis, the aim is to deveope new compounds active in inhibiting bone resorption.
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The innovation
Novaicos Srls deveolped an immunonogiacal approact for osteoporosis treatment, effective both in vitro and in vivo and able to restore bone structure
ICOS-Fc features:
- Biologic and biocompatible
- Do not alter bone cells life span
- Without collaterl effects
- Efficacy proved in vitro and in vivo in mice
Shortly
Scientific rationale
Bone and immune system are tightly connected, we recently demonstrated that ICOS/ICOSL pathway that is usually studied for its role in the control of immune system is also involved in the control of bone turnover. In particular ICOSL is expressed by osteoclasts (OCs).
The problem
Major osteoporotic fractures are a serious health problem in the increasingly elder population. Elderly suffering with femoral fractures will die within a year (15-25%) or become dependent (50%). Fractures impair patients’ quality of life, increase mortality and social costs. In developed countries, the lifetime risk for major osteoporotic fractures is 30% to 40%, very close to that for coronary heart disease. The number of post-menopausal women living with osteoporosis was predicted to increase of about 16.5% within 2020, this increase will be associated with an increase in the number of fractures between 16 and 18%.
The World Health Organization considers osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures to be as critical a health problem as acute myocardial infarction and strokes. The worldwide burden of osteoporosis is dramatically increasing and is a major health problem, one of the most debilitating osteoporotic fracture is hip fracture.
The innovative solution
Novaicos new drug (ICOS-Fc) provide a new approach for the treatment of osteoporosis that will reduce fracture risk, ameliorate treatment outcomes with reduced side effects. ICOS-Fc has a selective and fully reversible effect on bone resorption. (Patent pending Italian No.102015000018209 international PCT/IB2016/052903).
The landscape
Main competitors are old molecules as bisphosphonates (Fosamax®, Actonel®, and others) 1-34 teriparatide (Forsteo®), SERMS (Conbriza®, Evista®) and Denosumab (Prolia®), these molecules have major contra-indications and several adverse events as bleeding, uveitis, osteonecrosis of the jaw and atypical fractures. The market for anti-osteoporotic drugs has been evaluated in 8,8 B $ in 2015, with a 3.8% increase/yrs.
Management team
Multidisciplinar team with scientific and technical experience and skills in nanomaterial, immunology and bone metabolic disordes.
Luca C. Gigliotti, PhD Degree in Biotechnologies; Umberto Dianzani, MD, PhD full professor of Immunology, Università del Piemonte Orientale at Novara; Patrizia D’Amelio, MD, PhD is Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Gerontology at the University of Torino; Elena Boggio, Phd degree in Molecular Medicine at Università del Piemonte Orientale (UPO); Maurizio M. Zuzzaro is the founder of a major financial portal.
Partners
- University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO)
- Hospital Maggiore della Carità di Novara
- City of Health and Science Torino (Bone and Geriatric Unit)
- University of Torino (Dept of Drugs Science and Technology)
- Women’s Medical University of Tokyo
- Center of Biological Studies (Dept of Cellular Medicine Madrid)
- University of Torino (Dept of Medical Science)
Target:
Development of new molecules active on bone resorption in different osteolytic diseases as osteoporosis and bone metastases. The first patented molecule is ICOS-Fc. ICOS-Fc is active in osteoporosis and osteopenia with possible development in the fields of autoimmunity and oncology.
Research & Development
Development of new molecules active on bone resorption in different osteolytic diseases as osteoporosis and bone metastases. The first patented molecule is ICOS-Fc. ICOS-Fc is active in osteoporosis and osteopenia with possible development in the fields of autoimmunity and oncology.
Development of new formulation
Novaicos is working on different formulation of ICOS-Fc as the use of ICOS-Fc encapsuled in nanoparticles decorated or not with biphosphonates for targeting to the bone tissue.
Needs
Research for investors and industrial partners for the development of the research and clinical phase studies.