Vivia's research model is the search for new indications of existing drugs (named “reprofiling” or “repurposing”) in low prevalence illnesses. The “reprofiling” model aims at a safer process of drug development, as it is based on existing drugs that have already been approved for use in humans. Additionally, drug development periods are shorter:a new treatment can be approved in3 to 5 years, instead of the standard 10-15 years from research to market.
As our research is done directly on a patient sample, we work as closely as possible to the reality of the human body. This translates into a greater reliability of the results of our research, increasing the probability that they will be confirmed when the new treatment is administered to the patient.
We therefore believe that Vivia's research model is really translational, more effective, the shortest therapeutical distance between the patient and his/her most suitable treatment.
Vivia centers its research activities on the search for new treatments for rare hematological illnesses, such as hematological cancers (leukemias, multiple myeloma, etc.). About 120,000 potential new treatments will be analyzed in 12 subtypes of these illnesses within 18 months.
Vivia currently focuses in hematological cancers because of the high correlation between the efficacy of the drug observed in the patient's sample and the effect on the patient, which has been clinically validated. We focus our initial efforts where the technique has been most validated, seeking to establish the project on solid ground to, afterwards, move on to study other low prevalence diseases.