Diasome

About Diasome

Diasome Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, founded in 2004, that is developing therapies for metabolic diseases like diabetes and obesity. The company is a client of the Cleveland Clinic Innovations incubator. Diasome's work is centered on its proprietary Hepatocyte Directed Vesicles (HDV) technology, a drug delivery platform designed to target therapies directly to the liver's functional cells, the hepatocytes. This approach aims to mimic the body's natural physiological processes, where the liver plays a central role in regulating glucose and fat metabolism.

The company was co-founded by Robert Geho, who serves as CEO, and W. Blair Geho, the Chief Scientific Officer. Robert Geho's journey into life sciences was deeply personal; he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes while in business school, which prompted a career pivot from classical music to life sciences. His firsthand experience with diabetes provides him with unique insights into the disease and patient needs, which he combines with over two decades of experience in drug development, regulatory strategy, and complex financing. His leadership has been pivotal in advancing the company's research, including achieving milestones like the first human trial of liver-targeted insulin.

Diasome's primary product in development is an additive for commercial insulins that utilizes the HDV platform. This technology consists of nanometer-scale, two-layered microscopic discs that help transport injected insulin to the liver's hepatocytes. The core benefit is to improve glycemic control and reduce the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), a frequent and dangerous complication for insulin users. By targeting the liver, the HDV system is designed to restore the organ's natural role in glucose uptake, which is often bypassed by conventional subcutaneous insulin injections. The company is conducting multiple Phase 2b clinical trials, such as ISLE-1 and OPTI-2, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of its liver-targeted insulin compared to standard care for patients with type 1 diabetes. The pipeline also includes developments for an oral formulation for type 2 diabetes and a nanotechnology-based compound for obesity.

The company's business model appears to be a hybrid, focusing on developing its own products while being open to out-licensing or partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies. Diasome is venture capital-backed, having raised significant funding from investors including Eli Lilly and Company, Medicxi, and the JDRF T1D Fund. It operates as a private entity with a small core team and a network of consultants, aiming to bring its therapies through clinical trials to potential market approval.