ReAlta Life Sciences to Present RLS-0071 Data in aGVHD at ASH Annual Meeting

ReAlta Life Sciences, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, is committed to improving lives by addressing rare and acute inflammatory diseases through innovative treatments. The company is gearing up for a significant presentation at the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition, which will be held from December 7-10, 2024, in San Diego, California. At this event, ReAlta will showcase its leading asset, RLS-0071, also known as pegtarazimod.

Pegtarazimod is an innovative synthetic peptide derived from human astrovirus serotype 1, designed to treat acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (aGVHD), a serious complication arising from allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Additionally, it holds potential for treating various pulmonary and neurological conditions. This dual-action anti-inflammatory agent is capable of inhibiting both the complement cascade and neutrophil-mediated inflammation, making it a promising therapeutic candidate.

In earlier clinical trials, pegtarazimod exhibited an excellent safety profile, with no significant adverse events reported. Specifically, during a Phase 1 study involving healthy volunteers, the compound demonstrated effective target engagement and safety. Building on these promising results, a Phase 2 open-label clinical trial is currently underway, targeting hospitalized patients with steroid-refractory aGVHD. This clinical trial, registered under NCT06343792, is enrolling participants across several locations in the United States, Germany, and Spain.

The upcoming ASH meeting will feature a detailed exploration of pegtarazimod's mechanisms in preclinical models of aGVHD. These findings stem from extensive research conducted in Dr. Robert Zeiser's laboratory at the University of Freiburg, a leading institution in the study of aGVHD pathogenesis and treatment.

The poster presentation, titled "Exploring a Novel Anti-Inflammatory Peptide as Potential Treatment for Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease (aGVHD)," will be presented by Verena Holzmüller, a PhD candidate at the Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg. The session details are as follows: Poster #194793, located in Halls G-H of the San Diego Convention Center, scheduled for Sunday, December 8, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

ReAlta Life Sciences was founded in 2018 with a mission to save lives through innovative treatments that rebalance the inflammatory response. The company’s research is centered around the EPICC peptide platform, which is based on unique discoveries related to the human astrovirus HAstV-1. This virus is known for causing a non-inflammatory, self-limiting gastroenteritis by inhibiting components of the innate immune system. ReAlta leverages this natural mechanism to create therapeutic peptides that modulate both complement and innate inflammatory pathways, targeting critical processes like myeloperoxidase (MPO) and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs).

ReAlta's leading candidate, RLS-0071, has received multiple designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency. These include Orphan Drug Designation and Fast Track Designation for treating hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a condition causing severe brain damage in oxygen-deprived newborns, and for acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). Moreover, the FDA has granted IND clearance for the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a progressive inflammatory lung disease.

With its headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, and Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, ReAlta Life Sciences continues to advance its pipeline of therapies aimed at combating severe inflammatory diseases, driven by a commitment to scientific excellence and patient well-being.