Reset Therapeutics Announces Expansion of its Drug Discovery Platform via an Agreement with 23andMe Incorporating the Genetics of Circadian Rhythms

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Reset Therapeutics, a company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel drugs that restore the body's natural 24-hour physiological rhythms, announced today a research agreement with 23andMe.  The goal of the research collaboration with 23andMe is to study circadian clock genes and ultimately improve therapeutic development for diseases related to molecular clocks.

Research into the composition, function, and effects of molecular clocks has demonstrated that disruption of normal circadian rhythms is associated with diseases of the central nervous system, immune system dysfunction, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders and cancer.  Data suggest that resetting the circadian system resynchronizes biological processes with environmental demands, potentially resulting in therapies that target causes of disease, rather than just treating symptoms.

Through this collaboration, the Reset team will be able to conduct research from more than 650,000 23andMe customers who have consented for their de-identified aggregated data to be a part of research. Specifically, Reset finds the clock genes most consistently associated with chronotype, sleep, insulin resistance, stress response and related pathophysiology to identify novel circadian drug targets and to stratify patients and identify secondary indications for its existing therapeutic development programs.

"Reset is dedicated to creating precision approaches to treating orphan and larger metabolic diseases by restoring normal clock function to patients whose rhythms have become dysregulated," said Ross Bersot, CFA, president and CEO, Reset Therapeutics. "Working with 23andMe, we will amplify our R&D capabilities by incorporating a large scale human genetics element in our research platform in a way that wasn't possible.  With this collaboration we will be able to more efficiently and effectively drive our clinical programs.  This demonstrates the power of bringing together disease insights generated by researchers in academia, state-of-the art drug discovery and chemistry expertise built by Reset, and patient-empowered genomic models of research championed by 23andMe."

"Deeper insight into the genetics of circadian rhythms may lead to better treatments for a variety of diseases and disorders," said 23andMe Director of Business Development Emily Drabant-Conley, Ph.D. "It is an area that has been of interest to our research team for some time, and this collaboration with Reset provides the drug discovery and development resources needed to actually translate our insights into better therapies for patients."

Terms of the agreement are not disclosed.

About Reset Therapeutics

Reset is a discovery-stage biopharma company developing first-in-class approaches to treating orphan diseases by restoring the body's natural 24-hour, or circadian, rhythms.  Founded in 2008, Reset has elucidated the connections between circadian clock function and disease and discovered new treatments that modulate these connections.

About 23andMe

23andMe, Inc. is the leading personal genetics company dedicated to helping people access, understand and benefit from the human genome. Founded in 2006, the vision for 23andMe is to personalize healthcare by making and supporting meaningful discoveries through genetic research. More information is available at 23andMe.com. 

Contact:
Shu Kurosaki, Reset Therapeutics
[email protected]
Stacey Leanos, Bay City Capital
[email protected]
(415) 676-3830.

SOURCE Reset Therapeutics