XOMA Presents First XOMA 052 Cardiovascular Disease Animal Model Results
12:00p ET October 20, 2009 (GlobeNewswire)
XOMA Ltd. (Nasdaq:XOMA), a leader in the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies, announced the presentation today of peer-reviewed results with XOMA 052, its antibody to interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), at two international conferences.
Preclinical results with XOMA 052 in an animal model of cardiovascular disease were presented today at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the Society for Leukocyte Biology, International Cytokine Society, & International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research (Tri-Society) in Lisbon, Portugal. The presentation, entitled "XOMA 052, a regulatory monoclonal antibody targeting IL-1 beta, reduces biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in animal models," included results of studies in the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) knockout mouse model, a well-validated model of atherosclerosis that follows a similar pattern of progression to that of atherosclerosis in humans.
The results demonstrated that mice treated with a murine equivalent of XOMA 052 had a statistically significant reduction in the formation of atherosclerotic lesions, also known as plaque, in the aorta (p<0.05), and trends toward improved lipid profiles, compared to mice receiving a control antibody. Results from this study and XOMA 052 animal model studies in the diet-induced obesity model are available via the home page of the XOMA web site, www.xoma.com; click on "download here" link below "Tri-Society Presentation."
"These new results demonstrate for the first time that XOMA 052 has a direct, beneficial effect on plaque build-up in an established animal model of cardiovascular disease," said Stephen Doberstein, Ph.D., XOMA's Vice President of Research. "We are currently evaluating XOMA 052 in animal models of acute and chronic cardiovascular disease and anticipate these results will provide further support for our XOMA 052 development program."
Additionally, the company presented the results of its U.S. Phase 1 clinical trial of XOMA 052 in Type 2 diabetes at the International Diabetes Federation's (IDF) World Diabetes Conference in Montreal, Canada in a poster presentation entitled "XOMA 052, a potential disease-modifying anti-interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) regulatory antibody, shows reductions in hs-CRP, HbA1c and FPG after subcutaneous injection in a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial in subjects with type 2 diabetes." Results from this trial were announced on July 14 and are available via the home page of the XOMA website, www.xoma.com; click on the "download here" link below "XOMA 052 Phase 1 Results." These results support initiation of the Phase 2 clinical development program in diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
About XOMA 052
XOMA 052 is a potent monoclonal antibody with the potential to improve the treatment of patients with a wide variety of inflammatory diseases. XOMA 052 binds strongly to IL-1 beta, a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in the development of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and other diseases. By binding to IL-1 beta, XOMA 052 inhibits the activation of the IL-1 receptor, thereby preventing the cellular signaling events that produce inflammation. XOMA 052 has a half-life of 22 days. Based on its binding properties, specificity to IL-1 beta and half-life, XOMA 052 may provide convenient dosing of once per month or less frequently.
XOMA developed XOMA 052 using the company's proprietary antibody technologies, capabilities and expertise. XOMA owns worldwide rights to the antibody and related intellectual property. The company is actively pursuing a partnership for the development and commercialization of XOMA 052.
