June 22, 2011
Lack of iron in pregnant women may cause permanent
defects in the developing foetal brain. Post-doc, PhD Tina
Skjørringe now purports to investigate how the brain damage may be
avoided with iron replacement therapy during
pregnancy.
The health of the foetus depends on the mother's health
condition. Many pregnant women - both in the West, but especially
in developing countries - lack iron during their pregnancy.
Research suggests that this iron deficiency may cause permanent
damage to the developing foetal brain.
Post-doc, PhD Tina Skjørringe will, over the next three years,
research the effects of iron deficiency during foetal development
and in very young children. Her target is to map how iron
replacement therapy during pregnancy may lessen and indeed prevent
these fatal brain injuries.
Her research will be based on a number of animal studies in
which Dr. Skjørringe will examine, among other things, the
formation of nerve cells in the developing brain.
"We want to compare iron deficient pregnant rats with a
control group to gauge the effect on their offspring's brain
development. We will also experiment with iron replacement therapy
to investigate what effect it has on the offspring," says Dr.
Skjørringe.
Today, there is limited knowledge as to the ability of iron
replacements to transport iron through the brain-blood barrier, and
the hope is that Dr. Skjørringe's results will make it possible to
single out the iron replacement therapy most suitable to proceed
with towards developing a specific treatment for pregnant women and
infants with iron deficiency.
This is particularly important to Pharmacosmos A/S, the
project's industrial partner.
"We look forward to the results of the study. Tina
Skjørringes work will contribute significantly to identify clinical
candidates for future trials. And of particular interest is our
recently developed and marketed iron isomaltoside 1000 (Monofer
®)," says Lars Lykke Thomsen, Chief Medical Officer at
Pharmacosmos A/S.
He and Professor Torben Moos, Department of Medicine and Health
Technology, Aalborg University, are mentors for Tina
Skjørringe.
"I expect that Tina Skjørringe's project will place Aalborg
University as an internationally leading academic institution in
research related to iron turnover and therapy related to the brain.
Her results will be published internationally, they will probably
have considerable international influence and also a large
commercial potential," says Professor Torben Moos.
The research project has received part funding by the Danish
National Advanced Technology Foundation.
Further information
Lars Lykke Thomsen, Chief Medical Officer at Pharmacosmos A/S T:
+45 5948 5959
About the Danish National Advanced Technology
Foundation
The Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation is founded by
the Danish government with the general objective to enhance growth
and strengthen employment by supporting strategic and advanced
technological priorities within the fields of research and
innovation.
About Pharmacosmos A/S
Pharmacosmos develops and markets
medicines for the treatment of iron deficiency. A research-based
company, its ongoing R&D programme focuses on improving the
treatment options for healthcare professionals and patients
suffering from iron deficiency.
Pharmacosmos is a privately-owned
Danish company and operates in more than 50 countries across
Europe, the Americas and Asia. Its facilities are approved by the
Danish Medicines Agency and the US Food & Drug
Administration.