Galmed collaborates with Tel Aviv University to evaluate targeted therapy for metastatic brain cancers
April 15, 2026 | Wednesday | News
Among CNS unmet conditions, brain metastasis (BM) remains a lethal progression of the primary cancer in urgent need of novel and effective therapies
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Israel-based Galmed Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company for liver disease and GI oncological therapeutics, has announced a research collaboration agreement with Ramot at Tel Aviv University – Tel Aviv University’s technology transfer company – to evaluate Galmed’s brain-penetrating SCD1 inhibitor, Aramchol, as a targeted therapy for metastatic brain cancer.
By combining the genomic expertise of the Ben-David Lab with the advanced 3D in vitro and in vivo modeling capabilities of the Satchi-Fainaro Lab (both TAU internationally renowned research labs), Galmed aims to validate Aramchol’s efficacy in treating p53-deficient brain metastases.
The findings from the new research would also support Galmed’s clinical work underway at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center in colorectal cancers, where p53 mutations are highly prevalent.
The published research by Prof. Ben-David and Prof. Satchi-Fainaro demonstrated that the loss of p53 induces profound metabolic adaptations of the tumour, facilitating metastatic colonisation in the lipid-rich brain microenvironment.
SCD1, an enzyme that converts saturated fatty acids into monounsaturated fatty acids, is essential for lipid synthesis and membrane production in proliferating cancer cells. Owing to SCD1 upregulation in p53-deficient tumors, its downregulation by Aramchol could potentially treat the metabolic-dependent brain tumour, as confirmed in preclinical models.