Pharmasaga
About Us
PharmaSaga was established in January 2021 as a spin-off startup from Academia Sinica. The company's core technology is derived from over a decade of research on PS1 from the lab of Dr. Wen-Ching Yang at Academia Sinica, which was subsequently licensed to the company.
PS1 is a small-molecule inhibitor of the PDIA4 protein, which plays a crucial role in the development of diabetes. Mouse data indicates that inhibiting PDIA4 with PS1 can prevent the death of pancreatic islet cells, stabilize blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), reduce oxidative stress in islet cells, and even reverse diabetes.
Diabetes,
which has troubled humanity for over 2000 years,may finally have a chance of being treated or even cured.
The root cause of diabetes lies in the death of Beta cells, which are responsible for secreting insulin. Most diabetes medications aim to control blood sugar by regulating other organs, thereby slowing the progression of the disease. However, the small molecule drug PS1, developed by Arayz Biotech, targets the prevention of Beta cell death. This allows the body to produce sufficient insulin on its own, enabling the natural regulation of blood sugar levels.
Please refer to Join Pharmasaga → for job details.
Pharamasaga is a drug discovery and development company. We aim to develop novel anti-diabetic small-molecule drugs that can treat and reverse diabetes. Pdia4 was identified as a therapeutic target that promotes beta-cell failure and diabetes. By combining molecular docking, chemical synthesis and bioassays, Pdia4 inhibitors were developed as first-in-class drugs that can preserve beta cell mass and function and treat and reverse diabetes.
One of Pdia4 inhibitor, PS1, was approved by US FDA for its IND in 2022.
Products
Core Technology
Academia Sinica first discovered and identified a novel diabetes target, Pdia4, which regulates pancreatic islet cell failure and diabetes. Utilizing a Molecular Docking technology platform for screening, a lead compound to inhibit Pdia4 was identified from hundreds of compounds. After a series of optimization and screening efforts, PS-001 was selected as the drug candidate for development, positioning it to become a first-in-class small-molecule drug in the diabetes market. The company has obtained the global exclusive license for the aforementioned technology from Academia Sinica, establishing it as the company's core technology for drug development.
News
- [NEWS] PharmaSaga to Compete for the Startup Pitch Competition Championship at BIO North America.
- [2025] PharmaSaga's PS1 Diabetes Drug Shows Cure Potential, Launches Taiwan/U.S. Clinical Trials.
- [2025] Taiwan at BIO 2025 North America: All-Age Healthcare and Global Connectivity.
- [2025] PharmaSaga Biotech Reaches Global Finals (Again) at 2025 BIO US Convention
- [Taiwan's Biotech Success at BIO 2022] PharmaSaga and Sutech Reach Global Startup
Contact Us
- Pharmasaga
- Phone number : + 886-2-27938665
- E-mail : contact@pharmasaga.com
- Address : 22 F.-1, No. 93, Sec. 1, Xintai 5th Rd., Xizhi Dist., New Taipei City 221416, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
