Temprian, a spinoff from Northwestern University, has a platform technology intended for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Its lead indication is vitiligo. Vitiligo patients develop progressive depigmentation of the skin. There is no cure for vitiligo at this time.
While vitiligo is equally prevalent in all ethnic groups, it is most visible and impactful in people with darker skin tones. Comorbidities include alopecia areata, hypothyroid disease and depression. The disease can bring heavy emotional stress. Patients are routinely subject to discrimination and prejudice, affecting personal relationships and job opportunities.
Historically, treatments for diseases that disproportionately affect people of color have received little attention or resources essential to moving them forward. Temprian’s selection as a finalist for the Nature Spinoff Prize provides hope for securing finances needed for a clinical trial.
The 12 finalists represent companies from the United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland and Spain operating in such diverse fields as pharmaceuticals, predictive assays and medical devices.
Details of Temprian’s innovation are covered on the Nature website. The Spinoff Prize has been established by the journal Nature in partnership with Merck KGaA to showcase and celebrate global excellence in the commercialization of research through the creation of spinoff companies.
ABOUT Temprian Therapeutics Inc. The company is a spinoff from Northwestern University, established to develop DNA based treatments for autoimmune disease. Its lead indication is vitiligo. The Company has worked closely with the patient community in the development of a safe, non-invasive, market-oriented treatment for vitiligo. The HSP70-based drug is designed to temper autoimmunity, arrests the spread of the disease and trigger repigmentation.
ABOUT Nature, Merck KGaA and the Spinoff Prize 2020: The Spinoff Prize has been established by the journal Nature Research in partnership with Merck to showcase and celebrate global excellence in the commercialization of research through the creation of spinoff companies.
IP: The underlying patent “Mutant HSP70i to Prevent Autoimmune Disease” (Appl. No. 15/791,609) for Temprian’s platform technology was approved and issued by the USPTO on May 27, 2020.
