StemCell Therapy

Isarna Therapeutics showed off positive Phase I data for its lead compound ISTH0036 in patients with Glaucoma at the ARVO meeting last week.

Isarna Therapeutics from Munich is developing TGF- specific antisense RNA therapeuticsto treat ophthalmic and fibrotic diseases and cancer.Now the company hascleared its first Phase I trial for its lead candidate ISTH0036 in patients with advancedglaucoma. Additionally, the company is set to expand into further indications, with preclinical data demonstrating the drugs potential in models of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME).

We are now moving towards Phase II development in advanced glaucoma but also other TGF-2 associated diseases such as wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and other TGF2-associated diseases such as Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), well supported by the recent preclinical data we could gather for these diseases,commented Eugen Leo, Head of Clinical Development at Isarna.

In glaucoma, the second leading cause of vision impairment, thebuild-up of fluid in the eye leads to an increased intraocular pressure (IOP) that eventually damages the optic nerve.Scientific data indicates that disease progression is associated with elevated levels of TGF-2 that result in alterations of the trabecular network and potentially direct toxic effects on the optic nerve.

ISTH0036 is an antisense oligonucleotide targeting the mRNA of TGF-2, thereby inhibiting its transcription. The new Phase I study revealed that the gene therapy wassafe and well-tolerated in all patients and even demonstrated preliminary evidence for clinical efficacy regarding postoperative control of intraocular pressure (IOP).

Isarnas antisense RNA approach is very different from currently approved treatments for glaucoma, which includebeta blockers and alpha agonists thatboth work by reducing the production of intraocular fluid. However, French Eyevensys, which we interviewed last week at BioTrinity,is going for a similar strategy. The company just started clinical development of its lead compoundEYS606,a plasmid which encodes for an anti-TNF drug to treat patients with non-infectious uveitis. Similar to Isarna, the company is planning to expand its indications to address a number ophthalmic conditions such as AMD and DME.

Although the AMD market is expected to reach a whopping$8Bby 2020, the competition within this field is fierce, with big players like Regeneron and Roche dominating both AMD and DME markets with their effective VEGF-inhibitors Eyelea and Lucentis, respectively.

Images via shutterstock.com /photoJS and Mrs_Bazilio

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German Biotech Clears Phase I with New Gene Therapy for Glaucoma - Labiotech.eu (blog)

This entry was posted on May 16, 2017 at 12:47 am and is filed under Gene therapy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |