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FUGE-Funksjonell genomforskn.i Norg

Early stage drug discovery on rheumatoid arthritis and glomerulonephritis

Awarded: NOK 6.7 mill.

Project Number:

179739

Project Period:

2007 - 2009

Subject Fields:

Prof. Berit Johansens research group at the Norwegian University for Technology and Science in Trondheim, Norway, has successfully uncovered the molecular cellular mechanism of pro-inflammatory lipid hormones as regulators of the inflammatory and immunolo gically important transcription factor NF-kB in skin keratinocytes. A cytosolic phospholipase A2 enzyme (grIVaPLA2) is identified as a key regulator and novel therapeutic target of the proinflammatory cascade. Based on these research results, several comp ounds specifically targeting grIVaPLA2 have been synthesized by Prof. Em. Lars Skattebøl from Oslo University and tested in the lab of Prof. Johansen. One of these chemical entities, the lead compound (AVX001), has shown to represent a unique and novel a pproach to the treatment of psoriasis. The compound has also recently shown efficacy in a SCID mouse model of psoriasis, leading to Avexxin taking this compound into preclinical trial as of September 2006. Certain challenges with the synthesis of the comp ound in pharmaceutical scale have to be solved before entering clinical trial late 2007. In addition, novel compounds, sharing some of the unique characteristics with the potent anti-psoriatic compound, will during this project be synthesized and tested for their usefulness as therapeutics in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and glomerulonephritis (GN). This will be performed in a collaboration between Avexxin, two university research groups (Norwegian and Swiss) and the Norwegian company Syn thetica AS. Avexxin is the owner of the technology. The overriding goal in the described project is to expand Avexxin's R&D activities in order to establish its therapeutic approach into chronic inflammatory diseases with an unmet need for efficient and safe treatment, i.e. rheumatoid arthritis and glomerulonephritis. Both diseases are representing large international market opportunities of high economic value.

Funding scheme:

FUGE-Funksjonell genomforskn.i Norg