PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Affymax, Inc. a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, today announced the presentation of preclinical data on a Hematide(TM)-related peptide at the American Society of Nephrology Renal Week 2006 in San Diego. Hematide, a novel peptide-based drug designed to stimulate the production of red blood cells, is the Company’s first product candidate to enter the clinic. It currently is in Phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of anemia associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and in anemic cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Kathryn W. Woodburn, Ph.D., senior director, preclinical development at Affymax, presented an abstract (#TH-FC039) entitled “Correction of Erythropoietin (EPO) Antibody-Mediated Pure Red Cell Aplasia (PRCA) with a Peptidic Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agent (ESA) in the Rat,” during an oral session. This preclinical study evaluated the effect of a Hematide-related peptide in a model of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA), a type of anemia that develops when patients mount a neutralizing antibody response to recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) therapy. Study results showed that the Hematide- related peptide can increase hemoglobin and correct anemia caused by EPO- specific antibodies in an animal model.
“These preclinical results suggest that Hematide and related peptides, which have no sequence homology to recombinant human EPO, have the potential to treat EPO antibody-mediated PRCA,” said Dr. Woodburn. “Based in part of these findings, Affymax is currently conducting an ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the use of Hematide to treat anemia in CKD patients with PRCA. Hematide may provide a treatment for these patients because antibodies generated to recombinant EPO do not appear to cross-react with Hematide.”
Dr. Woodburn also presented a poster (Abstract # TH-PO359) entitled “Preclinical Safety, Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Hematide, a PEGylated Peptidic Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agent (ESA), for the Correction of Anemia in Patients with Kidney Disease.”
About Affymax, Inc.
Affymax, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel peptide-based drugs to improve the treatment of serious and often life-threatening conditions. Affymax’s lead product candidate, Hematide(TM), is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of anemia associated with chronic kidney disease and cancer.
Affymax, Inc.
CONTACT: Mary Fermi, Senior Director, Commercial Development, Affymax,Inc., +1-650-812-8722; Jani Bergan, WeissComm Partners, +1-415-946-1064, orjbergan@weisscommpartners.com
Web site: http://www.affymax.com/
