Dr. Gabriel Mbalaviele presented data from pre-clinical studies of Aclaris’ recently acquired drug candidate, ATI-450.
MALVERN, Pa., Nov. 21, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aclaris Therapeutics (Nasdaq:ACRS), a dermatologist-led, biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing and commercializing innovative and differentiated therapies to address significant unmet needs in medical and aesthetic dermatology, today announced that Dr. Gabriel Mbalaviele presented data from pre-clinical studies of Aclaris’ recently acquired drug candidate, ATI-450 (formerly known as CDD-450), a selective inhibitor of the p38/MK2 pathway, at a symposium at the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting earlier this month. The abstract summarizing the data is titled “NOMID-Associated Complications in Mice Are Prevented By CDD-450, a Small Molecule Inhibitor of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase-Activated Protein Kinase 2 (MK2) Pathway.”
In pre-clinical studies, ATI-450 was active in blocking multiple manifestations of the Neonatal-onset Multisystem Inflammatory Disease (NOMID) form of Cryopyrin associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) using an inducible transgenic murine model of the disease. CAPS are a spectrum of diseases arising from the gain of function mutations in NLRP3, a key component of the inflammasome, resulting in elevated systemic IL-β levels. Furthermore, ATI-450 inhibited cold-induced production of IL-1β from the blood of patients with another CAPS syndrome, Familial Cold Autoinflammatory Syndrome (FCAS). These results confirm the key role of the p38/MK2 pathway in the IL-1β biosynthetic pathway and suggest the potential for ATI-450 to be an oral treatment for CAPS.
“This data is compelling, and clearly, further evaluation of ATI-450 as a potential oral treatment for CAPS is warranted,” said Dr. Joseph Monahan, Executive Vice President, Research & Development of Aclaris. “We look forward to advancing this program towards the clinic.”
About Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc.
Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. is a dermatologist-led biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing and commercializing innovative and differentiated therapies to address significant unmet needs in medical and aesthetic dermatology. Aclaris is focused on large, underserved market segments with no FDA-approved medications or where treatment gaps exist. Aclaris is based in Malvern, Pennsylvania and more information can be found by visiting the Aclaris website at www.aclaristx.com.
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Contact:
Aclaris Contact
Michael Tung, M.D.
Investor Relations
484-329-2140
mtung@aclaristx.com