Liminal BioSciences Inc., formerly known as Prometic Life Sciences Inc., is a Canadian biopharmaceutical company.
Liminal BioSciences development programs target seven transmembrane GPCRs (7TM GPCRâÂÂs), where the receptor protein passes through the cell membrane seven times. These receptors are easily accessible to hydrophilic drugs due to their presence on the cell surface, and their non-uniform expression enables selectivity in modulating physiological processes. Agonists and antagonists of 7TM GPCRs receptors are utilized for treating various diseases in all organ systems. An agonist is a drug that binds to a target and mimics the action of the natural ligand. An antagonist is a drug that binds to a receptor and prevents other molecules (such as the natural ligand) from binding.
Liminal BioSicences' believe that their drug discovery platform and deep understanding of GPCRs allows the Company to identify small molecule candidates that can accurately target GPCRs where other drug discovery approaches have been unsuccessful. Its drug discovery platform leverages a fully integrated chemistry and biology expertise supported by our broad in vivo capabilities, which allows it to investigate preclinical drug candidatesâ efficacy in a wide variety of animal models and enables the Company to develop small molecule therapeutic candidates for the treatment of various metabolic, inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. Liminal BioSciences' aim to develop best or first-in-class therapies targeting indications with significant unmet needs, where a novel small molecule approach may be better suited using its drug discovery platform, specialized know-how and data-driven development plans.
Liminal BioSciences is a development stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel and distinctive small molecule therapeutics that modulate G protein-coupled receptors, or GPCR, pathways. The Company is designing proprietary novel small molecule therapeutic candidates with the intent of developing best/first in class therapeutics for the treatment of metabolic, inflammatory and fibrotic diseases with significant unmet medical needs, using our integrated drug discovery platform, medicinal chemistry expertise and deep understanding of the GPCR biology.
Liminal BioSciences' pipeline is currently made up of three development programs. The candidate selected for clinical development, LMNL6511, a selective antagonist for the GPR84 receptor, is expected to commence a Phase 1 clinical trial in the second half of 2023. The Company is also developing potential OXER1 antagonists and GPR40 agonists, both of which are at the preclinical stage. In addition to these priority development programs.
From early 2018 to early 2019, Prometic Life Sciences' Share price dropped 79%. The company's sought permission from the Toronto Stock Exchange to proceed without a shareholder vote for reasons of "financial hardship". In October 2019, the company allowed its shareholders to vote on a name change.