Allschwil, Switzerland, July 10, 2017, 09:00 CET
Polyphor contributes to the progress in understanding Neutrophil Elastase Science
Polyphor Ltd. in collaboration with academic groups presented on July 7th three posters related to Neutrophil Elastase (NE) at the 2nd World Bronchiectasis Conference, held in Milan. Two of these address the basic science of NE and describe the variability of NE levels in the sputum of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and Non Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis patients (NCFB) and the potential benefit of NE inhibition in preventing Neutrophil Extracellular Trap formation; one its application to clinical trials and shows the comparative measurements of NE in CF patients' sputum and its inhibition provided by POL6014, a novel, potent NE inhibitor - demonstrating how sputum NE measurement can be used as a reliable readout in patients. The studies were sponsored by the Dundee University, United Kingdom and by the INSERM-U 1100 in Tours, France and supported by Polyphor.
Daniel Obrecht, CSO of Polyphor, said: "Despite existing therapies there is still high unmet medical need for the treatment of chronic neutrophilic inflammation associated with high levels of free NE which ultimately leads to lung destruction and loss of pulmonary function.
Polyphor values the collaboration with academic partners to increase the understanding of NE and its quantification methods in disease-relevant lung matrix".
POL6014 is a potent inhaled NE inhibitor currently in clinical development in a Multiple Ascending Dose study in CF. Recently, promising data of a Single Ascending Dose study were presented at ECFS in Sevilla, showing a high concentration of POL6014 accompanied by strong inhibition of NE in sputum.
Polyphor is investing to better understand the science of NE inhibition as NE is considered one of the major determinants of chronic inflammation and tissue damage in neutrophilic lung diseases like CF or NCFB. NE released from activated neutrophils induces degradation of elastin and collagen, IL-8 production and mucin secretion, which eventually leads to lung destruction, resulting in the development of serious chronic lung diseases. A central role in the pathophysiology of CF and other neutrophilic lung diseases has been attributed to NE as high NE levels have been detected in sputa and these levels correlate with disease severity (as measured by FEV1%pred reduction)1.
Inhibition of pulmonary NE may greatly contribute to reduce the local inflammatory process and favor maintenance of tissue integrity, lung function and quality of life of patients suffering from bronchiectasis.
Contact:
Catherine Hof
Corporate Communications
Polyphor Ltd
Tel: +41 61 567 16 00
Email: PR@polyphor.com
About Polyphor:
Polyphor is a clinical stage, privately held Swiss specialty Pharma Company, focused on the development of macrocycle drugs that address antibiotic resistance and severe respiratory diseases. The company's lead drug candidates include:
- Murepavadin 2,3 (POL7080, entering Phase III / Pivotal registration program), a precision Outer Membrane Protein Targeting Antibiotic (OMPTA) against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa.
- POL6014 4-6 (in Phase Ib), an inhaled inhibitor of neutrophil elastase for the treatment of cystic fibrosis and other neutrophilic lung diseases.
- Balixafortide 7 (POL6326, in Phase Ib), an antagonist of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 for combination treatment in oncology.
Polyphor has applied its Protein Epitope Mimetic (PEM) proprietary technology to discover and optimize fully synthetic cyclopeptide serine protease inhibitors, CXCR4 antagonists and OMPTAs, which resulted, among others, in POL6014, Balixafortide and Murepavidin, respectively.
Polyphor has discovered the OMPTA class and is further developing it, including a broad-spectrum preclinical candidate, to address infections caused by difficult-to-treat, resistant Gram-negative pathogens - one of the most pressing emerging medical needs. The OMPTA represent the first new class of antibiotics against Gram-negative bacteria reaching advanced clinical stage in the last 40 years.
In addition, Polyphor has an important activity of discovery technology partnerships to assist pharma companies in research programs addressing difficult targets through its proprietary macrocycle technology platform.
Polyphor has several industry partnerships with and financing from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, Gilead Sciences, Novartis, Taisho and the Wellcome Trust.
References
1. Mayer-Hamblett N. et al. Association between pulmonary function and sputum biomarkers in Cystic Fibrosis. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. V175: 822-828, 2007.
2. Armaganidis A, et al. Pharmacokinetic and efficacy analysis of Murepavadin (POL7080) co-administered with standard-of-care (SOC) in a Phase II study in patients with ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) due to suspected or documented Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Poster 1308, ECCMID 2017.
3. Machacek M, et al. Population pharmacokinetics modeling of Murepavadin (POL7080) and simulation of target attainment in a population with ventilator-associated pneumonia due to infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Poster 1307, ECCMID 2017.
4. Lacey N. et al. A novel neutrophil elastase inhibitor, POL6014, for therapeutic potential in cystic fibrosis and airways disease characterised by neutrophil-dominated inflammation. Poster. NACFC, 2016.
5. Barth. P. et al. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-escalation Phase I study in healthy volunteers (HV) of inhaled single doses (SD) of POL6014, a potent and selective human neutrophil elastase. Poster, ECFS, 2017.
6. Hooftman, L. et al. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-escalation study of inhaled single doses of POL6014, a highly potent and selective reversible inhibitor of human neutrophil elastase (NE), in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Oral Communication, ECFS, 2017.
7. Gil-Martin et al. Phase Ib study of the combination of Balixafortide (a CXCR4 inhibitor) and Eribulin in HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer patients. Poster, ASCO 2017.
