Atom Bioscience Highlights Hyperuricemia Risks on Gout Awareness Day

Chronic gout has been linked to severe health conditions, including heart disease and kidney disease, underscoring the urgent need for safe and effective treatments, especially as the prevalence of gout is projected to rise. Atom Bioscience, a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Jiangsu, China, is advocating for increased awareness about the dangers of chronic gout in observance of Gout Awareness Day on May 22, 2024. The company has released a video illustrating how hyperuricemia, the underlying cause of gout, can escalate into more severe health issues and showcasing their efforts to develop new treatments.

Gout affects over 55 million people globally, with the numbers increasing every year. In the United States alone, more than 9.3 million individuals suffer from this condition. Atom Bioscience's founder and CEO, William Dongfang Shi, Ph.D., emphasized the increasing need for new, safe, and effective treatments, noting the connections between chronic gout and serious diseases such as heart attacks and kidney disease.

To address this, Atom Bioscience is currently enrolling patients in the U.S. for a Phase 2b/3 clinical trial of their innovative orally administered URAT1 inhibitor, ABP-671. This trial aims to test the efficacy of this novel treatment for chronic gout.

Gout is a prevalent form of inflammatory arthritis caused by hyperuricemia, a condition characterized by excessive uric acid levels in the blood, specifically more than 7 mg/dL. This accumulation of uric acid is often due to genetic mutations affecting the uric acid transport mechanisms in the kidneys and intestines. When these transporters fail to function correctly, uric acid is not adequately excreted from the body, leading to its build-up.

The excessive uric acid can crystallize in the joints and soft tissues, causing severe inflammation and pain, as well as the formation of urate kidney stones. This condition not only leads to debilitating pain but also increases the risk of developing more serious health issues.

Atom Bioscience is a rapidly growing innovative drug company dedicated to developing leading small molecule therapeutics for inflammatory and metabolic diseases. Their flagship product, ABP-671, is currently undergoing clinical development as a treatment for chronic gout.

The company emphasizes the importance of understanding the broader health implications of chronic gout and the necessity for advanced treatments to manage this condition effectively. As the prevalence of gout continues to rise globally, the efforts by companies like Atom Bioscience are crucial in providing hope for improved management and treatment of this painful and potentially dangerous disease.