MKK4

NEW YORK, Aug. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ProJenX, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel, brain-penetrant therapies targeting biologically-defined pathways for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases, today announced the formation of its Clinical Advisory Board (ClAB). The ClAB, which includes internationally renowned experts in clinical trial strategy and design for ALS and related neurodegenerative diseases, will provide strategic guidance for the clinical development of ProJenX's lead therapeutic candidate, prosetin—a novel, brain-penetrant, MAP4 kinase (MAP4K) inhibitor—and additional pipeline programs. Prosetin is being evaluated in Study PRO-101, a hybrid Phase 1 clinical trial designed to evaluate its safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics in healthy volunteers and participants with ALS. Parts A and B of the study, which assessed single and multiple ascending doses of prosetin in healthy volunteers, are complete, and positive safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic data from 48 healthy volunteers supports continued exploration of prosetin in ALS participants. The inaugural ClAB Chair is Angela Genge, MD, FRCP(C), eMBA (McGill University), who is joined by members Jinsy Andrews, MD, MSc (Columbia University), Leonard van den Berg, MD, PhD (UMC Utrecht), and Merit Cudkowicz, MD, MSc (Massachusetts General Hospital). Dr. Genge, Director of the ALS Global Centre of Excellence at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Professor of Neurology at McGill University, said, "Improved clinical outcomes for ALS patients will only be achieved through stewarding novel, scientifically rational investigational therapies supported by compelling and thorough preclinical data into the ALS clinical trial pipeline. Prosetin has been developed specifically for ALS and demonstrates robust neuroprotection in diverse ALS patient-derived stem cell models of the disease, and I am excited to guide Study PRO-101 as Chair of the ProJenX Clinical Advisory Board, as well as Principal Investigator of one of the trial study sites." Erin Fleming, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at ProJenX, said, "As we initiate the first-ever clinical study of prosetin in people living with ALS, we are thrilled to convene a world-class Clinical Advisory Board, which will bring unrivaled experience and knowledge across ALS drug development and data-driven clinical trial design to the prosetin development program. With our advisors' leadership, ProJenX is poised to translate decades of scientific discovery to people with ALS." ProJenX's ClAB member biographies can be viewed here. About ProJenX ProJenX is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel, brain-penetrant, targeted therapies to address neurodegenerative diseases, with an initial focus on ALS. ProJenX was created out of a long-term research collaboration between Project ALS and researchers at Columbia University to rapidly develop and commercialize its lead therapy candidate, prosetin, for people living with ALS. At the heart of ProJenX's approach is an innovative, patient-specific, cell-based drug discovery platform that can be leveraged for research and drug development for ALS and other debilitating brain diseases. For more information, visit projenx.com. About Prosetin Prosetin is a potent, oral, brain-penetrant, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP4K) inhibitor targeting endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. ER stress is a common feature across sporadic and familial forms of ALS, and MAP4Ks emerged as the critical regulators of ER stress-mediated motor neuron loss in a patient-specific, cell-based discovery platform developed by researchers at Columbia University. ProJenX is currently conducting a three-part Phase 1 clinical trial, PRO-101, investigating prosetin in healthy individuals and people living with ALS. Prosetin is an investigational new drug and has not been approved by the FDA. SOURCE ProJenX

HepaRegeniX said Wednesday it has successfully closed a €15 million ($16.2 million) series C round to advance a new therapy designed to jumpstart the liver's regenerative powers. The financing was led by Vesalius Biocapital IV with participation from existing investors Novo Holdings, Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, and High-Tech Gründerfonds.HRX-215 is a small molecule inhibitor of MKK4, designed to unlock the regenerative capacity of hepatocytes and boost liver regeneration in patients. According to HepaRegeniX, the therapy holds promise for people with liver metastases, primary liver tumours, and those undergoing liver transplantation."With the new funds, HepaRegeniX will advance with its clinical plans for a Phase Ib study in the US and an international Phase IIa study to enhance liver recovery and prevent liver failure," commented Elias Papatheodorou, who transitions from chair of the board to CEO.The company also announced the appointment of Linda Greenbaum as chief medical officer. "MKK4 is a key regulator of liver regeneration, and MKK4 inhibition has been shown to induce liver regeneration after a partial hepatectomy," she said. "With this mode of action, HRX-215 has an immense potential to improve outcomes for patients who are currently not able to undergo potentially curative surgical resections due to liver tumours."The funding comes on the heels of promising preclinical data and a Phase I trial. In a paper published in the journal Cell earlier this year, researchers said "we are convinced that the observed antisteatotic and antifibrotic activity provides a very good basis for further testing of HRX215 in chronic liver disease.""We envision that HRX215 harbours the potential to push the boundaries of oncological liver surgery," they said, adding "perioperative HRX215 treatment holds the promise to safely prevent PHLF [post-hepatectomy liver failure] after liver resections and will make more extensive resections possible, thus allowing a potential curative perspective for more patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases and also for patients suffering from primary liver carcinomas."HepaRegeniX raised a €9 million series A and €11 million series B in 2017 and 2020, respectively.

Funds to support Phase Ib clinical trial of HRX-215 in the US and an international multicenter Phase IIa clinical trial in liver regeneration Elias Papatheodorou moves from Chair of the Board to CEO of HepaRegeniX Dr. Linda Greenbaum joins HepaRegeniX as CMO TUEBINGEN, Germany, July 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HepaRegeniX GmbH, a clinical stage company developing a novel regenerative therapy for the treatment of acute and chronic liver diseases, today announced the closing of a Series C round led by Vesalius Biocapital IV with participation of existing investors Novo Holdings, Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund (BIVF), and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF). The new funds of €15 million will be used to advance the clinical development of the Company’s clinical candidate HRX-215. As part of the financing, Fabienne Roussel, Partner at Vesalius Biocapital, joins the Non-Executive Board of Directors. Elias Papatheodorou will become Chief Executive Officer, moving from Chair of the Board. Elias Papatheodorou, Chair of the Board, said “We are thrilled to secure this significant financing, which underscores the confidence our investors have in our science and our capabilities to bring effective treatments to patients suffering from liver diseases. With the new funds, HepaRegeniX will advance with its clinical plans for a Phase Ib study in the US and an international Phase IIa study to enhance liver recovery and prevent liver failure.” HRX-215 is a small molecule inhibitor of Mitogen-Activated Protein (MAP) Kinase Kinase 4 (MKK4). Inhibition of MKK4 unlocks the regenerative capacity of hepatocytes and can strongly boost liver regeneration in patients. This is highly relevant for patients with liver metastases or primary liver tumors, as resection of the tumors is the only curative therapeutic approach. Liver regeneration is also key in liver transplant and especially in enabling left liver lobe living donor transplant. This strategy could significantly reduce waiting list for liver transplant candidates. Promising preclinical data have confirmed HRX-215’s capacity for liver regeneration, and HepaRegeniX has successfully completed a Phase I trial. These results have been published in the prestigious journal Cell. “Vesalius Biocapital is excited to support HepaRegeniX as it progresses into the next phase of clinical development for HRX-215. There is an immense need for a treatment that can induce liver regeneration in patients suffering from liver damage, liver tumors, as well as in transplant settings. HRX-215 has potential to help these patients and make a meaningful impact on their lives. I look forward to working with HepaRegeniX’ excellent leadership team to advance this promising treatment candidate,” commented Fabienne Roussel, Partner at Vesalius Biocapital IV. Importantly, to take HepaRegeniX through the next stages of clinical development and value creation, Dr. Linda Greenbaum is joining HepaRegeniX as Chief Medical Officer (CMO). She brings extensive expertise and experience in clinical development and translational medicine. She recently served as Executive Director, Translational Medicine at Novartis in the US. Before joining Novartis, she held the position of Director of Clinical Development at Janssen R&D and served on the faculty of Thomas Jefferson University and University of Pennsylvania where she led a research laboratory investigating liver regeneration and fibrosis. Dr. Greenbaum holds an MD from the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. “I am honored to join HepaRegeniX at such a critical juncture in its development,” added Dr. Linda Greenbaum, Chief Medical Officer of HepaRegeniX. “MKK4 is a key regulator of liver regeneration, and MKK4 inhibition has been shown to induce liver regeneration after a partial hepatectomy. With this mode of action, HRX-215 has an immense potential to improve outcomes for patients who are currently not able to undergo potentially curative surgical resections due to liver tumors, and other patient groups affected by liver failure. I look forward to working with the talented team at HepaRegeniX to advance the clinical development of HRX-215 through Phase II trials and beyond, with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for patients with liver diseases worldwide." Elias Papatheodorou concluded “It is a pleasure to welcome Dr. Linda Greenbaum to our leadership team. With her extensive knowledge and expertise, she will guide the future clinical development of HRX-215. With our new funding and the extension to our experienced leadership team, we hope to bring a much-need therapy to patients suffering from liver diseases.” info@heparegenix.com For media inquiries: MC Services AG Katja Arnold, Dr. Regina Lutz +49 89 210 228-0 UK: Shaun Brown M: +44 7867 515 918 heparegenix@mc-services.eu About HepaRegeniX GmbH – Since 2017, HepaRegeniX has successfully discovered and developed several drug candidates for the treatment of acute and chronic liver diseases based on a novel proprietary molecular target Mitogen-Activated Protein (MAP) Kinase Kinase 4 (MKK4). The first MKK4 inhibitor HRX-215 recently completed Phase 1 clinical testing. MKK4 is a key regulator of liver regeneration and suppression of MKK4 unlocks the regenerative capacity of hepatocytes even in severely diseased livers. This new and unique therapeutic concept was discovered by Prof. Lars Zender and his research group at the University Hospital Tuebingen, Germany. Investors in HepaRegeniX include Vesalius Biocapital IV, the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund (BIVF), Novo Holdings A/S, Coparion, High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and Ascenion GmbH.