MimeCure signs license agreement with the University of Groningen for effective treatment of COPD

MimeCure BV has signed a license agreement with the University of Groningen (UG) for the use of its intellectual property including the patented protein fragment MC002. The signing marks the start of the development of MC002 into a biopharmaceutical for the treatment of COPD by this UG spin-off company.

MimeCure emerged from the research of Prof. Reinoud Gosens, Prof. Erik Frijlink, Prof. Anika Nagelkerke, and Dr Luke van der Koog of the Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP) of the UG. The research revolved around natural intercellular communication in the lung and was aimed at identifying proteins with regenerative capacities for the development of a curative treatment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Targeting COPD instead of its symptoms

COPD is a common and deadly lung disease—the third leading cause of death worldwide—mainly caused by air pollutants and tobacco smoke. During its research, the team discovered that MC002, a fragment of the protein mimecan, strongly promotes the regeneration of alveolar epithelial cells and lung tissue. This promising discovery led to the founding of MimeCure, a company now aiming to develop the protein fragment into a biopharmaceutical drug for the treatment of COPD.

There are many drugs countering the symptoms associated with COPD, such as shortness of breath, excessive mucus production, chronic inflammation, and airway constriction. However, to date, no approved therapies directly target the underlying cause of this devastating disease; the progressive destruction of alveolar epithelial cells and lung tissue, leading to irreversible loss of lung function.

Dr Luke van der Koog, director MimeCure: ‘Our initial in vivo results are very promising. They show that MC002 has the potential to counteract alveolar damage and improve lung function. This marks an important step toward developing a truly disease-modifying therapy for COPD.’

With MC002, MimeCure is taking a groundbreaking approach, aiming at the very core of COPD pathophysiology. By harnessing the regenerative potential of the lungs, MC002 has the potential to not only halt disease progression but also restore damaged lung tissue, fundamentally changing the outlook for COPD patients.

A potentially huge impact on patients' lives

Prof. Erik Frijlink, director MimeCure: ‘Despite the significant need, there is still no effective therapy available for COPD patients. The MC002 protein has the potential to alter the course of this debilitating disease, dramatically improving patient outcomes and reducing the societal and economic burden of COPD.’

Profs. Reinoud Gosens and Anika Nagelkerke, founders MimeCure: ‘Working with Business Generator Groningen and Biotech Booster has helped us researchers to get where we are now in a relatively short period of time. We are looking forward to a fruitful further collaboration and we will keep on leveraging our joint expertise and networks to accelerate the development of MC002.

In 2024, the MC002 project secured funding from the National Growth Fund programme Biotech Booster and MimeCure BV received financial support from Pharma Connect Capital.

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