INDEME: A targeted approach for vitiligo

Applications

Therapy dedicated to depigmentation disorders such as VITILIGO

• Most common depigmenting disorder (0.5-1% of the world population)
• Stigma and major negative impact on patients’ quality of life
• No cure nor way of restricting the spread of the disease reported so far

Decription

Identification of a core molecule X1 involved in melanocytes loss

• Ex vivo analysis
  • Higher X1 expression in vitiligo patients’ skin and sera compared to healthy subjects
  • Vitiligo patients:  Positive correlation between X1 level and the body surface area involved
• POC in vitro:
  • Inhibitors targeting X1 prevent melanocyte loss in an in vitro model

Benefits

• Development of the first targeted therapy dedicated to vitiligo, an inflammatory skin disorder with high unmet medical needs
• Near-orphan status for drug development