Fractyl Health announced today that it created the Erase T2D task force to research type 2 diabetes in the hopes of “erasing” the condition.
The academic-industry scientific partnership aims to advance research on the role of the gut in metabolic disease. This, in turn, could catalyze future discoveries on understanding and erasing type 2 diabetes.
As part of the task force, Lexington, Massachusetts-based Fractyl announced the initiation of its first two research projects. It began programs with professor Alan Cherrington at Vanderbilt University and professor Randy Seeley at the University of Michigan.
Both scientific research initiatives seek to establish new evidence on nutrient sensing and signaling mechanisms in the duodenum. Fractyl develops the Revita duodenal mucosal resurfacing (DMR) procedure in the hopes of reversing type 2 diabetes. The company said it hopes the collaboration brings a deeper understanding of the relationship between a dysfunctional duodenum and the onset and progression of type 2 diabetes.
About the studies
Cherrington’s study focuses on the gut-derived signaling pathways central to type 2 diabetes development and progression.
“If the development of duodenal dysfunction as a consequence of high fat and sugar diets is an important event in the development of T2D, we need to try to understand which duodenal changes could represent key causal steps in metabolic dysregulation and diabetes pathogenesis,” said Cherrington.
Seeley’s study centers around establishing a rodent model of duodenal mucosal disruption. This helps to define the mechanism of action of therapies targeting the duodenal mucosa.
“I am confident that we are taking the first steps in gaining a deeper understanding of the processes in the gut that lead to metabolic disease,” said Seeley. “This will enable us to identify precursors and therefore ultimately build increasingly effective therapeutic approaches that could lead to a metabolic reset in patients with T2D.”
Fractyl added that it “is enthusiastic” to begin the effort with academic partners representing “icons” in the field.
“Our ambition is to support the deep science that will lead to a greater understanding of the root causes of T2D,” said Dr. Harith Rajagopalan, co-founder and CEO of Fractyl Health. “We know these studies are the beginning of a journey and will lead to findings — and more questions — we can use to define our next steps in the process of discovery.”
