Levicept to Unveil Phase II Data at ACR Convergence 2024

Levicept Ltd, a biotechnology company based in the United Kingdom, has announced that it will be presenting the findings from its Phase II trial of LEVI-04 at the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, ACR Convergence 2024. The event will take place from November 14 to November 19, 2024, in Washington, DC. LEVI-04, developed by Levicept, is a pioneering treatment for osteoarthritis. It acts as a p75 neurotrophin receptor fusion protein (p75NTR-Fc), which delivers analgesic effects by inhibiting NT-3 activity. It also restores neurotrophin balance by supplementing the body's own p75NTR binding protein to clear the surplus neurotrophins found in osteoarthritis.

The data that will be presented comes from a comprehensive multi-arm, multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II study. This study included 518 participants who suffered from pain and disability due to knee osteoarthritis. The study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov under the ID: NCT05618782. Professor Philip Conaghan MD, Director of the NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, who is the Principal Investigator, will be presenting these results. He commented on the significance of the findings, stating, "We are excited to share the outstanding results from this rigorous and well-conducted study. Effective pain management is crucial in osteoarthritis, as current treatments often come with significant side effects, addiction risks, and limited efficacy. We believe LEVI-04 has the potential to be a crucial new option for millions of patients seeking better pain management solutions."

The presentation, titled "LEVI-04, a novel neurotrophin-3 inhibitor, substantially improves pain and function without deleterious effects on joint structure in people with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled Phase II trial," will be delivered by Conaghan along with other authors including Ali Guermazi, Nathaniel Katz, Asger R. Bihlet, Dror Rom, C. Michael Perkins, Bernadette Hughes, Claire Herholdt, Iwona Bombelka, and Simon Westbrook. The presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 08:00 EST.

Levicept Ltd is dedicated to creating novel, safe, and effective biological therapies for osteoarthritis and chronic pain, with LEVI-04 being their leading candidate. LEVI-04 functions by inhibiting NT-3, a member of the neurotrophin protein family. The Phase II clinical trial for LEVI-04 included over 500 participants with osteoarthritis. The market potential for osteoarthritis treatments is valued at over $10 billion. LEVI-04 was discovered by Levicept’s founder, Simon Westbrook. The company’s funding comes from notable investors such as Medicxi, Advent Life Sciences, Gilde Healthcare, and Pfizer Ventures.