Autoimmune diseases pose a major health challenge, as they cause chronic tissue damage, reduce quality of life, and create a long-term burden for both patients and the healthcare system. The underlying problem is that the immune system attacks the body’s own healthy cells, tissues, and other normal components, known as autoantigens. In patients with type 1 diabetes, the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas are attacked and destroyed by their own immune system. As a result, beta cells become inactive or disappear altogether, leading to a sharp reduction or complete loss of insulin production.

Antigen-specific immunotherapies are considered one of the most promising new approaches to restore immunological balance in type 1 diabetes. AviSia Therapeutics’ innovative solution leverages glycans, which are complex carbohydrate structures that act as recognition elements in cellular communication. Research indicates that the right combination of glycans and autoantigens can selectively dampen immune responses, potentially offering lifelong protection against autoimmune attacks.

Nicky Rijk-Vogels, CEO of AviSia Therapeutics: “Our mission is to develop antigen-specific immunotherapies for autoimmune diseases with a significant unmet medical need. With the support of Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland, we can take crucial steps in the development of our first lead product, which has the potential to make a huge impact on the quality of life of patients with type 1 diabetes.”

Ludolf Stavenga, Fund Manager at Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland: “AviSia Therapeutics applies glycan technology to develop highly targeted immunotherapies. The first focus is type 1 diabetes, with the potential to evolve into a platform technology that can be broadly applied to other autoimmune diseases in the future.”