Notopharm

The company

  • Spin-off of the Universities of Piemonte Orientale and Torino; established in 2007, it operates in the field of diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune disorders.
  • NoToPharm discovers molecular markers whose presence in the patient’s blood is instrumental for the diagnosis and prognosis of autoimmune disorders associated with viral infections, with a specific application in Systemic Sclerosis.
  • Two patents filed in 2008 and 2010.
  • Selected publications:
    - “Detection of anti-IFI16 antibodies by ELISA: clinical and serological associations in systemic sclerosis”, Costa et al. (2011) Rheumatology, 50: 674-681
    [link:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21134960]
    - “Redistribution of the nuclear protein IFI16 into the cytoplasm of ultraviolet B-exposed keratinocytes as a mechanism of autoantigen processing”, Costa et al. (2011) Br. J. Dermatol., 164: 282-290
    [link:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20973769]
    - “The interferon-inducible HIN-200 gene family in apoptosis and inflammation: implication for autoimmunity”, Mondini et al. (2010) Autoimmunity, 43: 226-231
    [link:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20187706]

Current Status

  • Confirmed that the presence of the antibody against IFI16 in the blood can be used as a marker for the diagnosis of systemic sclerosis.
  • Validated IFI16 as a potential prognostic marker of systemic sclerosis.
  • Developed test and optimized kit for anti-IFI16 antibodies.
  • Agreement with an Italian company for the production and EC certification of a kit for anti-IFI16 antibodies.