Dia-B Tech on the move1) Clinical Trials Victoria to assist...

Dia-B Tech on the move
1) Clinical Trials Victoria to assist Dia-B

Diabetes medical researchers, Dia-B Tech Limited, have engaged Clinical Trials Victoria (CTV). CTV’s team of eminent clinicians and researchers from Monash University and Baker Heart Research Institute will assist Dia-B as their Type 2 diabetes treatment, ISF402, approaches Phase 1 human clinical trials in 2006.

With this appointment, CTV will provide Dia-B with regulatory affairs strategy and product development advice through its wide network of research institutes and healthcare service providers.

Dia-B will have access to CTV’s established infrastructure of globally renowned medical research institutes, high quality tertiary hospital facilities, and world-class university research.

"CTV gives us the crucial regulatory affairs expertise we need as ISF402 moves towards starting Phase 1 clinical trials. CTV is also familiar with our diabetes research projects due to our common relationship with Monash University and the Baker Heart Research Institute." Ken Smith, CEO of Dia-B said.

Prof Henry Krum, of CTV (and Monash's Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine) said: "CTV provides the bridge from the laboratory through the regulatory process and sharpens the focus that small biotech companies such as Dia-B need as they get closer to the commencement of Phase 1 human trials."

2) Scientific Advisory Board appointments

Prof Robert Atkins AM, Director of the Department of Nephrology at Monash Medical Centre and Prof Paul Zimmet AO, Foundation Director of the International Diabetes Institute (IDI) have both been appointed to Dia-B's Scientific Advisory Board.

"We are delighted that the Scientific Advisory Board has been filled by two distinguished internationally recognised scientists. Their appointments are a significant boost to our work. We can now vigorously review our portfolio of projects and will be in a strong position to scientifically assess new opportunities as Dia-B grows in future years," said Ken Smith, CEO of DIA. "Bob Atkins will initially focus on our Baker project, where the newly discovered protein CDA1 appears to be responsible for the creation of significant complications in diabetes sufferers as well as causing other complications within the kidney and vascular systems generally. With Bob’s background in kidney research, he is ideally placed to monitor and advise on this discovery-stage research project."

Professor Robert Atkins is one of Australia’s most eminent nephrologists. He has been Director of the Department of Nephrology at Monash Medical Centre since 1972 and is professor of Medicine at Monash University. Professor Atkins has worked internationally at the highest levels of the profession. He was President of the International Society of Nephrology from 2001 to 2003 and has been actively involved with the ISN since 1984.

Prof Zimmet is the foundation Director of IDI and Professor of Diabetes at Monash University and is also a Professor at Deakin University. He also served on the Australian Government’s Strategic Taskforce on Diabetes and chairs a number of International Diabetes Federation Expert committees including Type 2 diabetes in Children and its new committee on the Metabolic Syndrome. Paul was instrumental in leading the first-ever National diabetes and obesity study in Australia (AusDiab).

Dia-B, the medical research company targeting diabetes is researching its novel insulin sensitiser ISF402, discovered by Prof Zimmet and Associate Prof Frank Ng of Monash University, who is also on Dia-B's Scientific Advisory Board. ISF402 may provide a new treatment for Type 2 diabetes patients to control blood glucose levels and to enhance the potency of their own insulin.

For more information:
http://www.dia-btech.com.au/