STOCKHOLM, Aug. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --
Today, Nuevolution AB (publ) announced the identity of its
"Cytokine X" program being a lead discovery program targeting
inhibition of Interleukin IL-17A using small molecules.
Nuevolution's small molecules may offer access to both topical
(e.g. cream based) treatment as well as safe tablet-based
treatment, whereas currently marketed IL-17A inhibitors are
injectable and high-cost antibodies that come with potential
adverse reactions from the treatment. The company also announced
that it will initiate promotion for potential partnership
opportunities on this exciting program targeting multiple
inflammatory diseases.
IL-17A is the founding signalling cytokine produced from TH17
cells of the immune system. This cytokine is responsible for
driving multiple inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, psoriatic
arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and is considered a major
contributing factor in diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease
and multiple sclerosis. The IL-17A target has presented itself as a
very challenging protein to inhibit (block) with small molecules,
and presently all available inhibitors are therefore based on
injectable antibodies.
Through application of Nuevolution's Chemetics®platform,
trillions of molecules were screened against IL-17A. This was
followed by application of Nuevolution's powerful drug discovery
optimization platform leading to identification of very potent
small molecule lead compounds that directly and selectively bind
the human IL-17A protein and potently block IL-17A cell signaling
to human keratinocytes (skin cells). In order to validate the
mechanism of action and benchmark our IL-17A blockers, we recently
demonstrated that one of our small molecule lead compounds was as
effective as an IL-17A neutralizing antibody in a collagen-induced
arthritis (CIA) in vivo mouse model.
In our program, X-Ray crystallography (three-dimensional
structures) from multiple chemical series have shown compounds
bound to the IL-17A target illustrating distinct mechanisms of
IL-17A binding of each chemotype. This supports our lead
optimization efforts further towards the potential identification
of a program candidate. Our data also supports that a small
molecule directly targeting IL-17A, may achieve the same efficacy
in clinical scoring as a therapeutic antibody directed against
IL-17A.
Our current optimization efforts focus on finalizing data for
initially a potential topical use of our IL-17A blockers as well as
seeking a potential next generation systemic (tablet-based)
formulation with the ambition of achieving a first-in-class small
molecule candidate for both topical and systemic treatment
options.
The development of an innovative topical as well as tablet-based
small molecule program, targeting the IL-17 pathway, would be of
very high value especially in diseases like psoriasis, psoriatic
arthritis as well as other inflammatory diseases. Global
Data[1] is forecasting global[2] sales in
each of these indications reaching about USD
13 billion in 2024 and 2025 respectively, which underlines
the interest and need for innovative treatment options in
inflammatory diseases.
"Important and disease relevant protein-protein interfaces,
like the one we target here in our IL-17A program, are notoriously
difficult to inhibit with small molecules. We are very enthusiastic
about this unique program and believe it has a strong potential to
deliver a potential first-in-class small molecule drug for topical
and tablet-based use directly targeting IL-17A", said
Thomas Franch, CSO.
For more information please see Nuevolution interim report for
the period ending 30 June 2018.
For more information, please contact:
Thomas Franch, CSO
Phone: +45-7020-0987
Email: tf@nuevolution.com
Alex Haahr Gouliaev, CEO
Phone: +45-7020-0987
Email: ahg@nuevolution.com
Information about Nuevolution AB (publ)
Nuevolution AB (publ) is a leading small molecule drug discovery
biotech company founded in 2001, and headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. Nuevolution partners its
discovery platform and develops its programs alone and in
collaboration with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to
seek future benefit for patients in need of novel medical treatment
options. Nuevolution's internal programs are focused on
therapeutically important diseases targets within severe
inflammatory diseases and cancer.
This information is information that Nuevolution AB (publ) is
obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation.
The information was sent for publication, through the agency of the
contact persons set out above, on Wednesday 22 August 2018 at 18:00
CET.
Nuevolution AB (publ) is listed at Nasdaq in Stockholm, Sweden (ticker: NUE). More
information about Nuevolution can be found on:
www.nuevolution.com
[1] PharmaPoint: Psoriasis – Global Drug Forecast and
Market Analysis to 2024, PharmaPoint: Psoriatic Arthritis – Global
Drug Forecast and Market Analysis to 2025
[2] United States,
Germany, France, United
Kingdom, Italy,
Spain, Japan
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SOURCE Nuevolution