US-based healthcare products company Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Research & Development is licensing a portfolio of biologic research programs for diabetics by Germany-based healthcare company Evotec and Harvard University.
The technology focuses on the regeneration of insulin-producing beta cells.
In 2011, Evotec, Harvard and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute collaborated to analyse and characterise drug candidates identified by scientists at the Harvard University laboratory of Douglas Melton.
Peter DiBattiste, global therapeutic head of cardiovascular and metabolism at Janssen Research & Development, said: “Beta cell survival and function play a critical role in maintaining normal glucose levels and when they are compromised, can contribute to the onset of diabetes. This collaboration strengthens our long term diabetes development pipeline and directly reflects our commitment to making a difference for the millions of people worldwide living with this disease.”