TME Pharma to Externalize and Monetize Clinical Asset NOX-E36

TME Pharma N.V. (Euronext Growth Paris: ALTME), a clinical-stage biotechnology entity dedicated to creating innovative cancer treatments through targeting the tumor microenvironment (TME), has announced its intention to externalize and commercialize its secondary clinical stage asset, NOX-E36. This compound is an L-stereoisomer RNA aptamer that inhibits the CCL2 chemokine. The decision to monetize NOX-E36 stems from its demonstrated potential in clinical and preclinical settings to safely meet significant unmet medical needs in ophthalmic diseases affected by fibrosis.

Research indicates that the CCL2 target of NOX-E36 can predict early failures in glaucoma surgical interventions among patients. Inhibition of the pathway targeted by NOX-E36 in preclinical models has been effective in preventing fibrosis, thereby extending the success of glaucoma surgeries. NOX-E36 has already been tested on 175 clinical trial participants, exhibiting excellent safety, tolerability, and activity on its target. This has mitigated several risks typically associated with early clinical development.

Fibrosis is a notable cause of treatment failure or increased severity in many critical eye diseases with unmet needs, including diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and primary open-angle glaucoma. Diabetic retinopathy affects approximately 9.6 million individuals in the US, with 1.84 million of those cases being vision-threatening. Age-related macular degeneration impacts around 20 million people in the US, with 1.5 million cases posing a threat to vision. Primary open-angle glaucoma affects over 3 million individuals in the US.