Iatrogen

Iatrogen was a Canadian biotechnology company focused on developing a novel gene therapy platform for the treatment of diabetes. Spun out from the University of Alberta, the company's lead technology involved the use of a viral vector to deliver the insulin gene to intestinal K-cells, enabling them to produce insulin in response to glucose. This approach aimed to provide a self-regulating, endogenous insulin source for patients with insulin-dependent diabetes, effectively creating a surrogate for pancreatic beta cells. Iatrogen was acquired by Islet Sciences in 2012 to integrate its gene therapy assets into a broader portfolio of diabetes-related therapies.