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Redx Pharma chief "encouraged" by latest data on fibrosis drug candidate

Published: 07:27 12 Feb 2019 GMT

picture of a liver
The drug will be given to people with NASH, or non-alcoholic liver disease

Redx Pharma Plc’s (LON:REDX) chief executive Lisa Anson said she was “encouraged” by pre-clinical data from a fibrosis drug set to enter human trials next year.

Three independent studies assessed the potential efficacy of the company’s lead ROCK2 compound in animal models of lung, kidney and liver fibrosis.

WATCH: Redx Pharma chief "encouraged" by latest data on fibrosis drug candidate

The lab tests showed the Redx drug candidate was able to suppress collagen deposition and pathways associated with fibrosis, meaning it could have an impact on established forms of the disease.

Its profile suggests the putative treatment is suitable to be taken by mouth, rather than injected directly into the blood system.

Central role in fibrotic disease

ROCK2, or rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2, is a protein that in humans regulates functions such as cell division and smooth muscle contraction.

It also plays a central role in metabolic and fibrotic disease, explained Dr Richard Armer, chief scientific officer of Redx.

“Generating highly selective ROCK2 inhibitors, without the significantly limiting hypotension observed with systemic use of existing non-selective ROCK1/2 inhibitors, has been a key research challenge,” he added.

“We are very encouraged to generate a highly selective ROCK2 inhibitor series where the lead compound has demonstrated anti-fibrotic effects pre-clinically in a broad range of organ models without any observed toxicity."

First-in-man studies

First-in-man studies of the ROCK2 technology will take place next year, focusing on people with NASH, or non-alcoholic liver disease.

“Liver fibrosis associated with NASH remains a condition with a clear unmet medical need and we hope that Redx's research into ROCK2 inhibition progresses into the clinic, potentially producing further data which could lead to a new treatment option for liver fibrosis patients," said CEO Anson.

The company’s most advanced and clinical-stage drug is a porcupine inhibitor. A phase I/II trial in people with solid tumours will re-start sometime in the first half.  

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