Almirall announces partnership with the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) to identify biomarkers for novel atopic dermatitis treatments

BARCELONA, Spain. February 8^th, 2023 – Almirall S.A. (BME: ALM), a global pharmaceutical company dedicated to medical dermatology, announced today a new research partnership with the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), an international biomedical research institute headquartered in Barcelona. The collaboration aims to identify molecular pathways and biomarkers specific to atopic dermatitis (AD). New insights into the mechanism of action of this complex disease has the potential to enable the development of novel treatment options.

The research objectives of this collaboration include the characterization of more detailed AD disease models with high physiological relevance and disease predictability. The partnership aims to identify new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of AD as a starting point for novel drug discovery projects.

Almirall will contribute its extensive experience in model development, sample preparation of in vitro and in vivo AD models, as well as tissue samples, transcriptomicsⁱ and data analysis. The CRG will provide expertise in proteomicsⁱⁱto identify potential drug targets for AD, thus broadening the scope of treatment options for this disease.

“We are pleased with the recent advancements in the treatment options for atopic dermatitis. However, we are also looking ahead to identify scientific and technological innovations that could enable the next level of treatment options to serve patients even better in the future. This collaboration allows us to combine our expertise in medical dermatology with the capabilities of the CRG's proteomics unit to better understand this complex disease and explore novel treatment opportunities for AD,” states Dr. Karl Ziegelbauer, Chief Scientific Officer of Almirall.

“Proteomics technologies are used in many translational research projects both for diagnosis and to understand disease mechanisms. Collaborating with a recognized company such as Almirall will allow us to delve deeper into the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis, which can provide the basis to further help patients suffering from this disease," says Dr. Eduard Sabidó, Head of the Joint CRG/UPF Proteomics Unit (ICTS OmicsTech).

Almirall and the CRG have previously already established a collaboration in 2023 to develop and characterize novel preclinical models that will help identify new treatments for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC).

This project will have an initial duration of two years and is partially funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) and the Centro de Desarrollo Tecnológico e Innovación (CDTI) (Spanish Ministry of Science) with Next Generation Europe funds.

About Almiral

Almirall is a global pharmaceutical company dedicated to medical dermatology. We closely collaborate with leading scientists, healthcare professionals, and patients to deliver our purpose: to transform the patients' world by helping them realize their hopes and dreams for a healthy life. We are at the forefront of science to deliver ground-breaking, differentiated medical dermatology innovations that address patients´ needs.

Almirall, founded in 1944 and headquartered in Barcelona, is publicly traded on the Spanish Stock Exchange (ticker: ALM). Almirall (total revenue in 2022: €878.5 MM, 1800 employees globally) has a direct presence in 21 countries and affiliates in over 70 others.

About CRG

The CRG is a biomedical research centre located in Barcelona. Created in December 2000, the CRG is home to an interdisciplinary research team of more than four hundred scientists focused on understanding the complexity of life, from the genome to the cell and a complete organism. The CRG is a research centre with a unique research model focused on recruiting internationally recognized leaders in the field. The CRG is a member of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST) and is a CERCA centre, part of the Generalitat de Catalunya research ecosystem.

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