Galmed partners with VCU to target drug resistance

US biopharma company Galmed Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: GLMD) has entered into a research collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University to investigate its lead candidate Aramchol (arachidyl amido cholanoic acid) as a potential solution to drug resistance in gastrointestinal cancers.

The preclinical studies, led by VCU scientists, will focus on colorectal and hepatocellular cancers, aiming to evaluate whether Aramchol can improve the efficacy of standard therapies such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors and chemotherapy.

The research builds on findings that suggest Aramchol’s inhibition of a key metabolic enzyme, SCD1, may help re-sensitize cancer cells to treatment. Galmed said this mechanism could represent a new approach for overcoming one of the major obstacles in GI cancer care.