Vanqua Bio to Present Pre-Clinical Data on VQ-201, a Next-Gen C5aR1 Antagonist for Inflammatory Disorders

Vanqua Bio, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Chicago, recently announced its participation in the 8th Annual Complement-Based Drug Development Summit, scheduled to take place in Boston from December 10 to 12, 2024. Vanqua Bio's Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Kevin Hunt, will present the company's advancements, particularly focusing on their development candidate VQ-201.

VQ-201 is a novel allosteric small molecule C5aR1 antagonist designed to target complement-mediated inflammation in peripheral inflammatory disorders. The presentation will also extend to discuss Vanqua's innovative CNS-penetrant C5aR1 antagonists. Targeting C5aR1 within the central nervous system is a compelling strategy for several conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, where reducing neuroinflammation is crucial for slowing the progression of the disease.

The presentation, titled "Discovery of Next Generation C5aR1 Antagonists for Peripheral and CNS Indications: Enhancing Target Coverage While Reducing Safety Liabilities," is scheduled for December 12 at 12:00 PM ET. Dr. Kevin Hunt, the Chief Scientific Officer, will lead the session, offering insights into the latest advancements in the field.

Jim Sullivan, PhD, the Chief Executive Officer of Vanqua Bio, emphasized the significance of targeting the complement system, which has shown clinical validation in various inflammatory disorders. He highlighted C5aR1 as a particularly promising target due to its potential to circumvent the safety concerns associated with upstream components of the pathway. Dr. Sullivan pointed out that selectively targeting the C5aR1 receptor could effectively address diseases driven by leukocyte pathophysiology.

In preclinical evaluations, VQ-201 has demonstrated notable efficacy. The compound robustly inhibits C5a-mediated chemotaxis and activation of pathogenic immune cells in vitro. In vivo studies showed that VQ-201 effectively protected renal function in a mouse model of autoantibody-driven renal diseases. VQ-201 also exhibited a favorable profile in preclinical non-GLP safety and tolerability studies, with the potential for once-daily administration in humans. Notably, VQ-201 surpasses earlier generation small molecule C5aR1 antagonists by avoiding structural liabilities that have been linked to idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity. Vanqua Bio anticipates initiating a Phase 1 clinical trial for VQ-201 in early 2026.

Additionally, the profiles of CNS-penetrant C5aR1 antagonists will be highlighted during the presentation. These advancements underscore Vanqua Bio's commitment to developing next-generation therapies that address both peripheral and central inflammatory disorders.

Vanqua Bio, founded in 2019 and headquartered in Chicago, focuses on developing groundbreaking medicines to improve the lives of patients suffering from neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases. The company's technology platform leverages human genetics and patient-derived CNS cells to identify, validate, and translate novel disease pathways into clinical applications, particularly those associated with lysosomal dysfunction or abnormal activation of the innate immune system. One of their initial targets is glucocerebrosidase (GCase), which is being explored as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease. The company’s pipeline also includes programs aimed at addressing overactivation of the innate immune system in various inflammatory conditions, including renal, dermatologic, and neurodegenerative diseases.