Principal Investigator
André Marette
Université Laval – Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (IUCPQ)
Co-investigator
Olivier Barbier
Université Laval – CHU de Québec-Université Laval
Donald Poirier
Université Laval – CHU de Québec-Université Laval
Project of $965,786 over 30 months
- Supported by CQDM through:
Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie du Québec (MEIE) - And by co-funding partners:
– Trienix Pharma Inc.
– Canadian Institutes of Health Research
– IUCPQ Foundation
– Canada Foundation for Innovation -Infrastructure Operating Fund
Challenge:
Several metabolic diseases have inflammatory components that significantly increase the risk of morbidity and mortality. This is particularly true for liver diseases such as cholangiopathies [e.g., primary biliary cholangitis [PBC]) and metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Despite recent efforts, therapeutic options for these diseases remain limited. Indeed, at present, only two molecules have recently been approved by the FDA (April 2024 and August 2025) for the treatment of MASH (a severe form of MASLD) in the United States. Therapeutic options for advanced fibrosis in PBC are also very limited.
Solution:
Protectins DX (PDX) and D1 (PD1) are specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators that promote the resolution of inflammation. Despite their strong therapeutic potential, the pharmaceutical development of protectins is hindered by high production costs and limited patentability as natural products. The project, supported by Trienix Pharma Inc., aims to synthesize new simplified analogs of protectins to evaluate them in cellular and animal models representative of these diseases, and to support their technological transfer as pharmaceutical actives.
Expected Achievements /Impacts:
The research team anticipates that the synthesis and validation of protectin analogs, which will prove to be innovative pharmaceutical actives, will be transferable to industry and economically advantageous for the control or treatment of PBC and MASLD. Trienix Pharma Inc. will have privileged access to new molecules, opening the door to the development of therapeutics for the treatment of these liver diseases.
