Galmed and Tissue Dynamics Collaborate to Develop Cardiac Fibrosis Model
Galmed Pharmaceuticals and Tissue Dynamics announced a collaboration to develop a novel human chronic cardiac fibrosis model designed to accelerate the discovery and development of new Aramchol-based therapeutic approaches for complex fibrotic heart diseases. Cardiac fibrosis is a major driver of chronic heart failure. There are no approved therapies that directly and durably reverse cardiac fibrosis. Regulators are now explicitly encouraging more human-relevant approaches. Tissue Dynamics and Galmed are collaborating on the development of the new platform as a high-throughput, human-centered model of chronic cardiac fibrosis, with an initial focus on the long-term effects of myocardial infarction and the fibrotic-metabolic remodeling associated with HFpEF. The platform will combine Tissue Dynamics' highly physiological vascularized, multichambered cardiac organoids with embedded metabolic sensors, massive automation, and continuous real-time monitoring. Tissue Dynamics is a next-generation human-focused CRO delivering predictive preclinical data using human organoid systems, real-time metabolic analytics, and explainable AI. Galmed aims to use this platform to develop and investigate new Aramchol-based therapies for chronic cardiac fibrotic disease.
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- Collaborative Model Development: Tissue Dynamics and Galmed Pharmaceuticals are collaborating to develop a novel human chronic cardiac fibrosis model aimed at accelerating the discovery and development of Aramchol-based therapies, particularly for complex diseases like post-myocardial infarction remodeling and heart failure.
- Cardiovascular Disease Burden: Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death globally, projected to account for 20.5 million deaths by 2025, highlighting a significant market need as there are currently no effective therapies that can directly reverse cardiac fibrosis.
- Technological Innovation: The new platform will integrate Tissue Dynamics' highly physiological vascularized multichambered cardiac organoids with embedded metabolic sensors, capable of testing over 20,000 organoids simultaneously, capturing real-time functional kinetics to provide more human-relevant insights into cardiac disease treatment.
- Strategic Implications: By enabling real-time monitoring and AI-driven analysis, this model is expected to support rapid evaluation of Aramchol candidates, potentially transforming the development of cardiac fibrosis therapies by improving tissue repair and addressing underlying metabolic dysfunction.
- Collaborative Model Development: Tissue Dynamics and Galmed Pharmaceuticals are collaborating to develop a novel human chronic cardiac fibrosis model aimed at accelerating the discovery and development of Aramchol-based therapies, which is expected to significantly enhance the efficiency of cardiac disease treatments.
- Impact of Cardiac Fibrosis: Cardiac fibrosis is a major driver of chronic heart failure, with cardiovascular diseases accounting for approximately 20.5 million deaths annually worldwide, making the development of effective therapies crucial for public health.
- Innovative Technology Application: The new platform will combine Tissue Dynamics' multichambered cardiac organoids with embedded metabolic sensors, capable of testing over 20,000 organoids simultaneously, capturing real-time functional kinetics data, thus advancing cardiac disease research.
- Strategic Implications: This collaboration will leverage Galmed's expertise in SCD1 biology and metabolic pathway modulation, while AI-driven analysis will support rapid evaluation of Aramchol candidates, potentially transforming the development of cardiac fibrosis therapies.
- Collaboration Agreement: Galmed Pharmaceuticals has signed a collaboration agreement with Ramot at Tel Aviv University to evaluate the potential of Aramchol in treating metastatic brain cancer, marking a strategic expansion into oncology.
- Drug Mechanism Analysis: Originally developed as an SCD1 inhibitor for liver disease, Aramchol is now being repurposed for breast cancer brain metastasis treatment, demonstrating its potential by downregulating SCD1 to prevent further metastasis in cancer cells.
- Research Support: Studies from Tel Aviv University indicate that p53 mutations lead to metabolic adaptations associated with SCD1 upregulation, and Galmed plans to validate Aramchol's efficacy in p53-deficient brain metastasis using advanced preclinical testing systems.
- Clinical Work Advancement: This collaboration will support Galmed's ongoing clinical research at Virginia Commonwealth University, particularly in colorectal cancers where p53 mutations are prevalent, providing a new research direction for Aramchol's application.
- Research Collaboration Agreement: Galmed Pharmaceuticals has signed a research collaboration agreement with Ramot at Tel Aviv University to evaluate its brain-penetrating SCD1 inhibitor, Aramchol, as a targeted therapy for metastatic brain cancer, marking a strategic expansion into cancer treatment.
- Combining Genomics and Modeling: By collaborating with the Ben-David Lab and Satchi-Fainaro Lab, Galmed aims to leverage advanced 3D in vitro and in vivo modeling techniques to validate Aramchol's efficacy in treating p53-deficient brain metastases, potentially providing critical data support for clinical applications.
- Metabolic Adaptation Research: Studies indicate that p53 inactivation induces metabolic adaptations in tumors, facilitating metastasis in the lipid-rich brain microenvironment, and Aramchol's downregulation of SCD1 could represent a novel treatment option for this metabolic-dependent brain tumor, holding significant clinical implications.
- Innovative Treatment Prospects: Galmed CEO Allen Baharaff emphasized that the discovery of p53 inactivation driving brain metastasis opens up innovative therapeutic opportunities for Aramchol, and this collaboration will advance its development in metastatic cancers, addressing the high unmet needs of patient populations.

- Breakthrough in Drug Development: Galmed announced a collaboration with Ramot at Tel Aviv University to utilize Aramchol as a first-in-class brain-penetrant SCD1 inhibitor targeting metastatic brain cancer, potentially offering an innovative therapy for this lethal condition.
- Survival Rate Challenge: Patients with brain metastases have a two-year survival rate below 10%, and despite various treatment modalities, there is an urgent need for new therapies, making the development of Aramchol crucial for improving outcomes.
- Research Collaboration Advantage: By leveraging the genomic expertise of the Ben-David Lab and the 3D modeling capabilities of the Satchi-Fainaro Lab, Galmed aims to validate Aramchol's efficacy in treating p53-deficient brain metastases, paving the way for clinical applications.
- Strategic Significance: This collaboration not only lays the groundwork for Aramchol's clinical development but also may provide new therapeutic insights for other cancer types, highlighting Galmed's innovative potential in oncology.
- Stock Surge: Galmed Pharmaceuticals (GLMD) shares soared over 85% in pre-market trading on Thursday, surpassing $1 for the first time since December 19, indicating strong market enthusiasm for the new drug formulation and reflecting investor optimism about the company's future potential.
- New Drug Formulation: The newly launched Aramchol formulation utilizes lipid nanoparticles delivered via injection, designed to cross the blood-brain barrier, representing a significant technological breakthrough that could provide new treatment options for central nervous system disorders like Parkinson's disease, showcasing the company's innovative capabilities in biotechnology.
- Market Performance: GLMD's stock has gained 27% over the past five sessions, and the robust pre-market performance further solidifies investor confidence in the company, potentially attracting more institutional investors' interest in the stock.
- Collaborative Development: The formulation was developed in collaboration with Barcode Nanotech, highlighting Galmed's strategic partnerships in technology development aimed at addressing unmet medical needs through innovative drugs, thereby enhancing its competitive position in the market.









