Pharmacopeia Nominates Novel Chemokine Receptor Antagonist for Development
Monday February 11, 7:30 am ET
Company Also Provides Update on DARA Program's Ongoing Phase 2a Hypertension Study
PRINCETON, N.J., Feb. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pharmacopeia (Nasdaq: PCOP - News), an innovator in the discovery and development of novel small molecule therapeutics, today announced the nomination of PS031291 as a preclinical development compound from its internal CCR1 discovery program. PS031291 is a potent and highly selective antagonist at the chemokine receptor CCR1, which has been implicated to play a significant role in multiple inflammatory and autoimmune disease processes. Pharmacopeia believes PS031291 may possess significant potential in the oral treatment of multiple myeloma and various inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis. The company intends to initiate GLP toxicology studies on the compound in the current quarter.
"PS031291 strengthens Pharmacopeia's internal pipeline with a wholly-owned development candidate with the potential to address significant therapeutic needs," said Les Browne, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Pharmacopeia. "We believe this nomination is a testament to our drug discovery expertise which has already generated a number of clinical compounds for our strategic partners."
While a number of compounds discovered by Pharmacopeia are being developed by its various collaborators, PS031291 is the first compound to emerge from Pharmacopeia's internal drug discovery efforts into its internal development portfolio. Pharmacopeia's internal clinical pipeline consists of PS433540 (DARA) for hypertension and diabetic nephropathy and PS178990 (SARM) for muscle wasting associated with a number of serious medical conditions including end-stage renal disease.
In addition, Pharmacopeia announced that enrollment in its ongoing Phase 2a PS433540 (DARA) clinical trial in subjects with Stage I and Stage II hypertension is progressing well. The trial remains on schedule with results expected in the second quarter of 2008.
PS433540 is a dual-acting angiotensin (AII) and endothelin (ET1) receptor antagonist (DARA) that is being developed as a potential treatment for hypertension and diabetic nephropathy. PS433540, the first and only DARA compound in development, possesses two clinically validated mechanisms of action in a single compound. There is considerable preclinical and initial clinical data suggesting that compared to either agent alone, simultaneously blocking the actions of both AII and ET1 may provide significantly improved treatment options for several cardiovascular diseases.
surf's up......crikey
