iLeadBMS Reports Positive Preclinical Results of IL1512 (CXCR7 Agonist) at ATS 2024

DONGTAN, KOREA, May 21, 2024 – iLeadBMS, a prominent biotech firm focusing on the discovery and development of innovative therapies for significant medical needs, has reported encouraging results for IL1512. This first-in-class CXCR7 agonist is being studied as a potential treatment for pulmonary fibrotic diseases. The findings were presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS 2024) conference, which took place in San Diego from May 17th to 22nd.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rare and severe lung condition marked by progressive scarring of lung tissue. The survival rate for patients five years post-diagnosis is less than 40%. According to Research And Markets, the market for IPF treatments is expected to grow to approximately $6.1 billion by 2030, highlighting the significant unmet medical needs in this area.

To address these needs, iLeadBMS has focused its research on CXCR7 (C-X-C chemokine receptor 7), an important receptor involved in signals that increase fibrosis and inflammation. CXCR7 binds selectively to the chemokine ligands CXCL11 and CXCL12, which are involved in pathways related to fibrosis, inflammation, tissue repair, and new blood vessel formation. IL1512 has demonstrated high selectivity for CXCR7, without interacting with other chemokine receptors, and has shown promising pharmacokinetic properties in animal studies involving mice and rats when administered orally.

In experiments using a bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model, IL1512 resulted in dose-dependent improvements in the Ashcroft score, suggesting it might be more effective in combating fibrosis than the current standard therapy. Furthermore, IL1512 was well-tolerated and did not cause weight loss in the subjects, indicating a favorable safety profile. These results suggest that IL1512 may offer superior safety and efficacy compared to existing treatments.

Preclinical studies on the selected CXCR7 agonist candidate have begun, and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) toxicity studies are scheduled for the latter half of the year. The company's strategy is to develop therapies that minimize side effects while providing comprehensive anti-fibrotic benefits, potentially treating multiple organs beyond the lungs. The company also anticipates seeking expedited regulatory approval, such as Orphan Drug Designation (ODD), for its fibrosis program. Concurrently, research on CXCR7 agonists capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier is underway for potential applications in neurological disorders.

About iLeadBMS
Founded in 2020, iLeadBMS is dedicated to discovering and developing new drugs, with a research and development pipeline that targets fibrotic diseases, protease inhibitors, solid tumors, and neurodegenerative conditions.