- Cell & Gene Therapy
Autoimmune Diseases are Incurable – How New Targeted Therapies Could Change That
A healthy immune system protects our bodies by fighting disease and infection. Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system is overactive, causing the body to attack and damage its own tissues – the very thing it’s supposed to protect. Currently autoimmune diseases are incurable – but new targeted therapies could provide hope for patients around the world.
It is not known what triggers the immune system to go into overdrive, but an autoimmune disease diagnosis can mean chronic inflammation, debilitating pain, and life-threatening health issues. And it is estimated that about 8% of the population is affected by autoimmune diseases.
There are nearly 100 autoimmune diseases known today, including lupus, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
Current treatments generally focus on reducing or suppressing the immune system’s overall activity. And weakening the immune system puts the patient at increased risk for other infections and diseases.
But what if we could target the affected cells and tissues without weakening the overall immune system? Could we better treat or even cure autoimmune diseases?
If so, this could be a game changer. That’s why Leaps by Bayer, the impact investment arm of Bayer, is building and investing in companies that are exploring breakthrough techniques to advance targeted curative immunotherapies.
Leaps by Bayer was created to drive the goal to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges in human health and agriculture. The approach revolves around 10 Leaps that if solved, could have a major impact on humanity.
Leap No. 6 seeks to reverse autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammation. Systematically addressing autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammation could enable patients to live free of pain, disease management, and life-threatening conditions. The three newest portfolio companies rising to the challenge are Mozart Therapeutics, GRO Biosciences and Deka Biosciences.
Partnering with these three innovative companies holds the potential to develop tomorrow’s therapies and even cures for autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases as well as cancer, significantly improving the health and quality of life of millions of people around the world.”