PLYMOUTH MEETING, Penn., May 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Genaera Corporation (Nasdaq: GENR) today reported that MedImmune, Inc. (Nasdaq: MEDI) presented data related to the Interleukin-9 (IL-9) program at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2007 Annual Conference held May 18-23 in San Francisco, California. Genaera and MedImmune entered into a collaborative licensing agreement for this program in 2001. MedImmune is conducting research to evaluate the potential to use its fully humanized, developmental stage monoclonal antibody (MAb) targeting IL-9 to treat or prevent symptomatic, moderate-to-severe, persistent asthma. The ATS presentations summarize several preclinical and clinical studies on IL-9 biology and include results from two phase 1 clinical trials to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of the antibody, known as MEDI-528, in healthy adults.
IL-9 is associated with features of asthma including increased airway inflammation, obstruction and hyperresponsiveness, mucin production and mast cell generation. Earlier preclinical study results have demonstrated that inhibition of IL-9 leads to decreased airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in animal models. The clinical results presented at ATS indicate that the anti-IL-9 MAb, currently being evaluated in a phase 2 trial in patients with asthma, was well tolerated.
'This first look at human anti-IL-9 data clearly supports the clinical plan MedImmune has undertaken to advance this novel potential treatment for patients with moderate to severe asthma,' said Jack Armstrong, President and Chief Executive Officer of Genaera. 'These data clearly support further study of MEDI-528 in asthma patients. We look forward to our continued relationship with MedImmune and are pleased that the anti-IL-9 antibody is progressing within their respiratory inflammation pipeline.'
In addition to the clinical results described at ATS, results from preclinical studies focused on the role of IL-9 in the pathology of asthma were also presented. These data provide new insight into IL-9's role in mast cell regulation and allergen-induced airway remodeling.
About Anti-IL-9 MAb
IL-9 has been associated with symptoms of asthma including mucous production, lung infiltration of inflammatory cells, and IgE (an immune globulin associated with allergic disease) production. It is one of at least 29 naturally occurring interleukins in the human body
