Palisade Bio Shows PDE4B as Potential Stratification Marker in Patients

Palisade Bio, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company specializing in innovative treatments for autoimmune, inflammatory, and fibrotic diseases, has announced progress in its collaboration with Strand Life Sciences. The company has successfully refined patient selection strategies based on PDE4-related biomarkers to enhance clinical outcomes for Ulcerative Colitis (UC) patients. This development is a significant step forward in the company's mission to provide targeted therapies for individuals suffering from this condition.

As part of this collaboration, RNA sequencing (RNAseq) datasets were analyzed using a standardized bioinformatics pipeline. This process generates normalized TPM counts for each gene, allowing for precise measurement of gene expression levels. The analysis revealed that PDE4B expression is notably higher in colitis patients, a finding consistent across both adult and pediatric groups. Specifically, PDE4B expression above a measurable threshold was observed in 70% of adult colitis patients and 90% of pediatric colitis patients. This suggests that PDE4B could play a crucial role in patient stratification and treatment planning.

Dr. Mitch Jones, Chief Medical Officer of Palisade Bio, emphasized the importance of these findings, stating that PDE4B expression could become a valuable tool in precision medicine for colitis. By tailoring treatments based on PDE4B levels, healthcare providers can offer more personalized and effective interventions. Dr. Jones also highlighted the promising potential of Palisade Bio's lead program, PALI-2108, an orally administered, colon-specific PDE4 inhibitor prodrug. The company plans to commence a Phase 1 clinical trial for PALI-2108 before the end of the year.

In preclinical studies, particularly a DSS-induced UC mouse model, researchers observed increased PDE4B levels in colon tissue with the induction of DSS colitis. Treatment with PALI-2108 resulted in significant reductions in PDE4B expression, which closely correlated with increased levels of cAMP in colon tissue and reductions in inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha. Additionally, there was a notable decrease in the disease activity index score over time compared to the control group. Other positive outcomes included mitigated body weight loss and preservation of colon length in higher dosage groups, indicating targeted efficacy.

Palisade Bio is dedicated to transforming the treatment landscape for patients with autoimmune, inflammatory, and fibrotic diseases through targeted therapeutic approaches. The company's progress in refining patient selection strategies and advancing clinical trials underscores its commitment to delivering innovative solutions to improve patient outcomes.

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