Biotech and university extend option agreement for novel biomarker for monitoring glaucoma

Commercial stage biotechnology acceleration development company, Q BioMed, has extended its option agreement with Washington University in St Louis for a novel companion biomarker for monitoring glaucoma and initiation of a clinical study.

Extension of the agreement will enable more thorough evaluation of GDF15, a novel biomarker for monitoring glaucoma and companion diagnostic to MAN-01, Q BioMed’s exclusively licensed technology.

A study will be conducted by Dr Arsham Sheybani, assistant professor of Ophthalmology and Dr Rajendra S. Apte, the Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Washington University in St Louis, to gather more information on the feasibility and usability of GDF15.

The study investigators will look at whether GDF15 levels correlate with glaucoma severity and with adequate therapeutic response in patients undergoing glaucoma surgery. A primary goal of glaucoma surgeries is to lower intraocular pressure (IOP), therefore, IOP levels will also be measured before surgery and at the follow up period.

“We are very pleased to be taking this project one step further,” stated Denis Corin, Q BioMed CEO. “We believe that Q BioMed is uniquely positioned to address the marketable demand for novel, breakthrough, precision medicine tools to treat glaucoma. This GDF-15 diagnostic, combined with our MAN-01 drug to treat glaucoma, will be a powerful combination: improving the decision-making tools for clinicians, while making a positive impact on the health of glaucoma patients.”