ROCK1

The company focuses on discovering and developing small-molecule, targeted therapeutics for the treatment of fibrotic disease and cancer. RXC008 is a wholly owned gastro-intestinal (GI) targeted Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, being developed as a potential first-in-class treatment for patients with fibrostenotic Crohn’s disease. The primary objective of this first-in-human study is to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of the drug and it is expected that results from the healthy volunteer cohorts will be available by the end of 2024. Lisa Anson, CEO, of Redx Pharma said: “We are delighted to confirm that the first participant has been dosed in the RXC008 Phase 1 clinical study. RXC008 is a potential first-in-class treatment for patients with fibrostenotic Crohn’s disease, a debilitating condition where successive surgeries are the only treatment option available today. “This milestone represents the sixth asset from Redx to enter clinical development, continuing our strong track record in small molecule drug discovery as a result of our world-class medicinal chemistry and translational science expertise.” Significant unmet clinical need Fibrostenotic Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition that causes inflammation and fibrotic stricture formation in the GI tract. More than 50% of patients diagnosed with Crohn’s disease will develop fibrostenosis within 10 years of diagnosis. There are currently no drugs specifically approved for the underlying fibrosis, which can progress despite intervention with anti-inflammatory therapies.  The only current treatment options are invasive surgical procedures to remove the affected part of the GI tract with the majority of patients requiring many successive surgical interventions. googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display('text-ad1'); }); Dr Helen Timmis, interim chief medical officer, of Redx Pharma added: “Fibrostenotic Crohn’s disease patients face a significant unmet clinical need, and I am pleased that we have successfully progressed RXC008 into the clinic. “The strength of our preclinical package makes us hopeful that RXC008 can be a potential first-in-class therapeutic treatment option for fibrostenotic Crohn’s patients, and we look forward to reporting the phase 1 healthy volunteer data later this year.” Single and multi-ascending dose The phase 1 clinical study consists of two parts. The first in healthy volunteers includes both single ascending dose (SAD) and multiple ascending dose (MAD) cohorts, the latter being dosed for 14 days. The primary endpoint for the healthy volunteer cohorts will be safety, with secondary endpoints being related to RXC008’s PK profile. The second part of the study will investigate patients with fibrostenotic Crohn’s disease who will be dosed for a one-month duration with a placebo control, to show safety along with PK profile, target engagement, and changes in circulating biomarkers. Data from the healthy volunteer cohorts are expected to be available by the end of 2024. RXC008 is a potent, oral, small molecule non-systemic ROCK 1/2 inhibitor that avoids the significant cardiovascular side effects of pan-ROCK inhibitors, including tachycardia and hypotension, by being restricted to the GI-tract via high efflux and low permeability. This results in virtually no systemic breakthrough, with the molecule being rapidly metabolised by paraoxonase enzymes in the plasma, should any breakthrough occur under particular circumstances. RXC008 has a strong preclinical package across multiple therapeutic models, data from which was presented at the 2022 Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Nordic Conference, including results from a therapeutic 12-week DSS model with a closely related GI-targeted ROCK inhibitor, REDX08087.  In this model, Redx was able to show a complete reversal of preformed GI fibrosis as measured by trichome collagen staining, fully reversing fibrosis back to baseline levels. This level of anti-fibrotic effect is the strongest seen in any of Redx’s fibrosis models and modes of action to date. RXC008 is being developed to be used in conjunction with anti-inflammatories and other symptomatic treatments for Crohn’s to address the underlying fibrosis of the disease.

Sanofi’s strategic investment in Graviton Bioscience will advance the development of ROCK2 inhibitors. Credit: Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock.com. Graviton Bioscience has secured a strategic investment from Sanofi to develop a selective Rho/Rho-associated coiled coil [a structural motif in proteins] containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) inhibitors for serious diseases. The collaboration grants Sanofi the right of initial negotiation to license compounds for conditions, including immunological and metabolic syndrome indications. ROCK2 is part of the AGC family of kinases and an effector of the small guanosine triphosphate Rho. It is associated with the pathology of metabolic, autoimmune, inflammatory and neurological disorders, many of which currently lack adequate treatment options. Graviton Bioscience CEO and founder Samuel Waksal stated: “We are thrilled to welcome Sanofi as a strategic partner. Their dedication to the development of ROCK2 inhibitor treatments aligns perfectly with our vision. See Also: LimmaTech secures funding for vaccine technology development Tyra Biosciences’ TYRA-300 gains FDA rare paediatric disease status “This investment opens an exciting new chapter for our vision of advancing and commercialising ROCK2 inhibitors, fostering a future that holds promise for patients globally. We are enthusiastic about the support from Sanofi.” Graviton is committed to creating therapeutics for autoimmune, CNS, fibrotic and other serious diseases in which ROCK2 and its therapeutic compounds are crucial. The company’s drug candidate, GV101, is undergoing clinical trials while other assets are progressing through preclinical development. GV101 stands out as a clinical-stage selective inhibitor of ROCK2, with an ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier evidenced in preclinical studies. It is now in a Phase I multiple ascending dose trial with healthy subjects and has shown clinically relevant exposure and a favourable safety profile. A different formulation of GV101 concluded a Phase I single and multiple ascending dose study in China. The drug demonstrated a favourable safety profile at clinically relevant exposures. Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson stated: “This investment in Graviton Bioscience reflects our commitment to innovative therapies and providing patients with novel medicines and vaccines. “Graviton’s scientific expertise in discovering and developing the next wave of innovation has the potential to significantly enhance the landscape of therapeutic possibilities.”

This information is brought to you by the Lupus Research Alliance and Lupus Therapeutics and is not sponsored by, nor a part of, the American College of Rheumatology. 30+ presentations of studies funded by the LRA spanning a broad spectrum of research areas Positive results from Phase 2/3 clinical studies supported by LRA affiliate Lupus Therapeutics point to potential new treatments Lupus Therapeutics' PALS Program helps overcome challenges of diverse lupus patient trial participation SAN DIEGO, Nov. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA), the largest non-governmental non-profit funder of lupus research worldwide, is pleased to announce results from more than 30 studies supported by the LRA and its clinical research affiliate Lupus Therapeutics will be presented at ACR Convergence 2023, the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology. Studies will represent the full continuum of research that the LRA and Lupus Therapeutics support, from innovative foundational research to lupus clinical trials evaluating potential new treatments. "The LRA and Lupus Therapeutics are extremely proud of the tremendous work we have supported that will contribute to the dynamic scientific dialogue at this important rheumatology meeting,' commented LRA President and CEO Albert T. Roy. "We also look forward to many presentations of exciting clinical research, including results from CAR-T cell therapy studies that built on pioneering work funded by the LRA and have the potential to shift the lupus treatment paradigm." FOUNDATIONAL RESEARCH FUNDED BY THE LRA LRA-funded investigators will be presenting their recent breakthroughs across a broad spectrum of lupus research, including the impact of lupus on various organs such as the skin, kidney, and brain, the contribution of the gut microbiome to lupus, dysregulation of a variety of immune cell types underlying lupus, and more. ORAL PRESENTATIONS Sunday, Nov. 12 APOL1 High Risk Genotype in SLE: A Genes in Context Story Abstract # NA, 12:00 PM – Room 11A-B ROCK1 Orchestrates B-cell Differentiation Under Stress Abstract #0729, 2:30 PM – Room 30D-E Lupus Nephritis Flares Linked to Platelet Activation During Gut Pathobiont Blooms Abstract #0851, 5:00 PM, Exhibit Hall A-B Monday, Nov. 13 CXCL13+ T cell differentiation in systemic lupus erythematosus is controlled by opposing effects of aryl hydrocarbon receptor and type I interferon Abstract #1580, 11:15 AM – Exhibit Hall A-B Metabolic Mechanisms that Control Inflammation and Immune-related Disorders Plenary Session II, 12:00 PM – Room 30D-E Keratinocyte VISTA Suppresses Skin IFN-I Production by Regulating DNA Damage Repair and Cytosolic DNA Sensing Abstract #1586, 2:15 PM – Room 32A-B Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Reveals Cellular Drivers of UV-mediated Skin Injury in Cutaneous Lupus Abstract #1599, 2:30 PM – Room 6F/6C Identifying Potential Neuroimaging Biomarkers of Neuropsychiatric Lupus in Children Using Deep Learning Abstract #1625, 3:00 PM – Room 7A-B Tuesday, Nov. 14 Longitudinal Gut Microbiome Analyses and Blooms of Pathogenic Strains during Lupus Disease Flares Abstract #NA, 8:20 AM – Room 6F/6C Development of Engineered Smith-Specific Regulatory T Cells to Treat Lupus Nephritis Abstract #2444, 2:15 PM – Room 26A-B Targeting of Endothelial Dysfunction in Lupus Nephritis: Effect on Human Renal Endothelial Cell Gene Expression and Outcomes in Murine Lupus Nephritis Abstract #2445, 2:30 PM – Room 26A-B UV Light Exposure Induces a Type I Interferon Dependent Activation and Migration of Inflammatory Dendritic Cells to Local Lymph Nodes Abstract #2448, 3:15 PM – Room 26A-B Wednesday, Nov. 15 In Situ Adaptive Immunity in Human Lupus Nephritis Abstract # N/A, 8:30 AM – Room 29A-D POSTER PRESENTATIONS – Poster Hall Sunday, Nov. 12 Elevated Serum Levels of S100A8/A9 Discriminate Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients with Cognitive Impairment from Patients Without Impairment Abstract #0558, 9:00 AM Comparison of Plasma Protein Profiles and Endothelial Function in Patients with Pediatric-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Healthy Controls Abstract #0568, 9:00 AM Monday, Nov. 13 Specificity of Brain-Intrinsic and Hematopoietic-Derived Mechanisms in Mediating Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Abstract #0890, 9:00 AM Adverse Childhood Experiences in a Paediatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Cohort Abstract #1241, 9:00 AM Agreement Between Parent- and Self-Report of Executive Function in Adolescents with Childhood-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Abstract #1242, 9:00 AM Proinflammatory Neutrophils and NETs Mediate Skin and Kidney Inflammation During Lupus Flare in Asymptomatic Lupus-prone Mice Triggered by UVB Abstract #0920, 9:00 AM IL-4 Acts Through Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor to Antagonize TLR7-induced Double Negative 2 B Cells in Lupus Abstract #0925, 9:00 AM Examining the Relationship Between Socioenvironmental Factors and Cognitive Functioning in Youth with Childhood-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Abstract #1226, 9:00 AM Longitudinal Assessment of Self-reported Executive Function in Youth with Childhood-Onset Lupus Abstract #1229, 9:00 AM Complement Deposition on Extracellular Mitochondria Induces Platelet Activation in Vitro Abstract #0900, 9:00 AM The Cellular and Spatial Type I Interferon Response Following Skin Exposure to Ultraviolet Light Abstract #0894, 9:00 AM Tuesday, Nov. 14 Brain Activity Patterns and Behavioural Performance in SLE Patients During a Spatial Working Memory and Sustained Attention Task Abstract #2258, 9:00 AM The Effects of Systematic Lupus Erythematosus Related Cognitive Impairments on Activities of Daily Living and Life Role Participation: A Qualitative Framework Study Abstract #2259, 9:00 AM Association of Mycophenolate and Azathioprine Use with Cognitive Function in Systemic Lupus Using a Bayesian Longitudinal Item-response Theory Model Abstract #2290, 9:00 AM CLINICAL TRIALS SUPPORTED BY LUPUS THERAPEUTICS As the clinical research affiliate of the LRA, Lupus Therapeutics collaborates with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, as well as lupus experts from their Lupus Clinical Investigators Network (LuCIN) to help design and conduct high-quality, patient-centric, and diverse lupus studies, including several with results being presented at ACR Convergence 2023. ORAL PRESENTATIONS Tuesday, Nov. 14 Efficacy and Safety of ABBV-599 High Dose (Elsubrutinib 60 mg and Upadacitinib 30 mg) and Upadacitinib Monotherapy for the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Phase 2, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial Abstract #2488, 2:00 PM – Ballroom 20D Phase 2 Safety and Efficacy of Subcutaneous (s.c.) Dose Ianalumab (VAY736; Anti-BAFFR mAb) Administered Monthly over 28 Weeks in Patients Abstract #2487, 2:00 PM – Ballroom 20D POSTER PRESENTATIONS – Poster Hall Monday, Nov. 13 Treatment with Upadacitinib in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Results in the Inhibition of B-Cell–related Biomarkers: Analysis of the M19-130 (SLEek) Phase 2 Study Abstract #1489, 9:00 AM Disease Course and Complement as Predictors of Response to Standard of Care Plus Placebo in Patients with SLE: A Post Hoc Analysis of Dapirolizumab Pegol and Epratuzumab Clinical Trial Data Abstract #1503, 9:00 AM Steroid-sparing Effects of Afimetoran (BMS-986256), an Equipotent Toll-like Receptor (TLR)7 and TLR8 Antagonist, in a Lupus Mouse Model Abstract #0897, 9:00 AM Transcriptomic Analysis of the Impact of Iberdomide on Patients with SLE Abstract #1694, 4:00 PM Tuesday, Nov. 14 Dapirolizumab Pegol Impacts Important Immunologic Pathways in SLE: Pharmacodynamic Analysis of B Cell and Type I Interferon Pathways from a Phase 2b Trial Abstract #2333, 9:00 AM Modulation of B Cell and Interferon Pathways by Ianalumab in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Findings from a Phase 2 Clinical Trial Abstract #2342, 9:00 AM WORK CONDUCTED THROUGH THE LUPUS THERAPEUTICS PALS PROGRAM Patient Advocates for Lupus Studies (PALS) is a peer support program that aims to improve participation in lupus clinical trials through increased education and availability of information about clinical trials. Individuals living with lupus who have clinical research act as peer educators, or PALs, to deliver educational sessions to others living with lupus. The PALS program was piloted from 2019-2021 and demonstrated significant increases in knowledge about, attitudes toward, and intentions to participate in lupus clinical trials among program participants. POSTER PRESENTATION – Poster Hall Sunday, Nov. 12 Barriers and Facilitators to Recruiting Underrepresented Participants for Clinical Trials: Insights from the Lupus Clinical Investigators Network (LuCIN) Abstract #0183, 9:00 AM WORK CONDUCTED BY THE ACCELERATING MEDICINES PARTNERSHIP The LRA is a partner in Accelerating Medicines Partnership® Autoimmune Mediated Disease (AMP® AIM), which brings together 20 organizations from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to accelerate the identification and validation of new therapeutic targets by reconstructing shared immune response pathways through spatial and multi-omics technologies. The project is managed by the FNIH and builds on the success of AMP RA/SLE in which LRA was also a partner. The presentation of results from an AMP® AIM lupus study is noted below. ORAL PRESENTATION Monday, Nov. 13 Single Cell Transcriptomics in Kidney Tissue from African American Patients Enrolled in the Accelerating Medicines Partnership (AMP) Implicates Tubular Cells in the Pathogenesis of APOL1 Associated Lupus Nephritis Abstract #1695, 4:30 PM – Room 6F/6C About Lupus Lupus is a chronic, complex autoimmune disease that affects millions of people worldwide. More than 90 percent of people with lupus are women, often striking during the childbearing years of 15-45. Blacks/African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans are at two to three times greater risk than Caucasians for developing lupus. In lupus, the immune system, meant to defend against infections, produces antibodies that mistakenly recognize the body's own cells as foreign, prompting other immune cells to attack and potentially damage organs such as the kidneys, brain, heart, lungs, blood, skin, and joints. About Lupus Research Alliance The Lupus Research Alliance is the largest non-governmental, non-profit funder of lupus research worldwide. The organization aims to transform treatment by funding the most innovative lupus research, fostering diverse scientific talent, and driving discovery toward better diagnostics, improved treatments and ultimately, cure for lupus. Because the Lupus Research Alliance's Board of Directors funds all administrative and fundraising costs, 100% of all donations goes to support lupus research programs. About Lupus Therapeutics Lupus Therapeutics, the clinical research affiliate of the Lupus Research Alliance, aims to accelerate the development of curative treatments for all patients living with lupus. Lupus Therapeutics collaborates with academic institutions, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical partners through the unprecedented Lupus Clinical Investigators Network (LuCIN) to drive rapid and meaningful progress in the treatment of lupus patients. The organization elevates the patient voice, engages community stakeholders, and strives for representation of the diverse lupus community in the clinical research process with the most innovative and renowned experts throughout North America. Visit lupustherapeutics.org for more information. SOURCE Lupus Research Alliance