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Abingdon UK, 29th May 2013: Atopix Therapeutics Ltd (“Atopix”), a biopharmaceutical company developing a novel class of anti-allergic medicines, has been awarded a £1.7 million grant from the UK Biomedical Catalyst fund to pursue development of OC459 in the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (a form of eczema).
Atopix has acquired rights to OC459 and other CRTH2 antagonists from Oxagen Ltd. OC459 has successfully completed proof-of-concept clinical trials in asthma and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. OC459 is a highly potent and selective CRTH2 antagonist which is effective in asthma when given once a day at doses as low as 25 mg.
CRTH2 is a G protein coupled receptor that is selectively expressed by key cell types mediating allergic responses – Th2 lymphocytes, basophils and eosinophils – and is activated by prostaglandin D2, an abundant lipid product of mast cells. Mast cell-dependent activation of Th2 lymphocytes and eosinophils is blocked by CRTH2 antagonists which reduce both allergic sensitisation and effector responses to allergen. The prostaglandin D2/CRTH2 pathway is up-regulated in severe allergic conditions and functional polymorphisms in CRTH2 are associated with asthma and atopic dermatitis.
Atopix now plans to study the effect of once daily treatment with OC459 for 6 months in patients with atopic dermatitis whose condition is poorly controlled by existing therapies. The study is powered to detect an effect on flares, the major health economic burden in atopic dermatitis. The primary endpoint of the study will be the Eczema Activity Severity Index. Atopix will also determine whether functional genetic polymorphisms in CRTH2 influence the therapeutic response to OC459.
The award from the Biomedical Catalyst follows a £3.7 million Series A funding led by MPM Capital, SV Life Sciences and Wellington Partners with additional participation by Bessemer Partners and Red Abbey. In connection with the financing Luke Evnin, Managing Director of MPM Capital, Mike Carter Venture Partner at SV Life Sciences and Regina Hodits, General Partner at Wellington Partners have joined Tim Edwards (Chairman), Mark Payton (CEO), Alan Ezekowitz, CEO and Chairman of Abide Therapeutics and former SVP Respiratory and Immunology franchise at Merck Research Laboratories and Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University as members of the Board.
Mark Payton, CEO of Atopix, said: “In the past six months, Atopix has transformed itself from a semi-virtual to a fully formed clinical stage biopharmaceutical company. This award from the Biomedical Catalyst, on top of the earlier funding from our key investors, enables us to test this exciting new mechanism for the first time in atopic dermatitis and could provide the first safe, oral, once a day therapy for this disease. Furthermore, since the mechanism is also effective in asthma and allergic rhinitis this would provide a “one-stop” solution for those patients suffering from multiple co-existing allergies, whose only long term alternative at present is multiple topical therapy, usually involving steroids.”
Contact
Atopix Therapeutics Ltd
Mark Payton, CEO
+44 (0) 1235 841563
atopix@atopixtherapeutics.co.uk
College Hill (PR Agency for Atopix)
Eileen Paul/Jen Lewis
+44 (0)1260 296 500
eileen.paul@collegehill.com
About Atopix Therapeutics Ltd
Atopix Therapeutics Limited is a privately held, clinical-stage, biopharmaceutical company based in Oxford, UK, with an innovative approach to allergy. The company is developing a novel class of oral anti-allergic medicines, called CRTH2 antagonists, to treat atopic dermatitis, asthma and allergic rhinitis. Its lead candidate is currently being studied in a Phase 2 clinical trial for severe atopic dermatitis in several leading European dermatology centres. Atopix has a pipeline of highly potent back-up CRTH2 antagonists, including the Phase 1 ready oral candidate ATX2417, and ATX 2286 and other topical candidates that can be formulated for treatment of a number of severe allergic conditions including eye disease. For more information, please visit http://www.atopixtherapeutics.co.uk.
About Atopic Dermatitis
The increasing prevalence of allergy is a major health issue. Often manifested as atopic dermatitis in early childhood, allergies can progress to allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and severe allergic asthma. This process has been termed the “atopic march” and new treatments are badly needed to effectively control the debilitating symptoms and intervene in disease progression. An estimated 3.2% of the US and EU population have atopic dermatitis with 15-20% of children being affected. Currently, oral systemic therapy is reserved for the most severe intractable cases which receive oral steroids, methotrexate, azathioprine or cyclosporin, all of which have potentially serious side effects. The world wide market for drugs to treat atopic dermatitis is projected to be $940 million per year by 2017.
About the Biomedical Catalyst
The Biomedical Catalyst, announced by Prime Minister David Cameron in December 2011, is a programme of public funding designed to deliver growth to the UK life sciences sector. Delivered jointly by the Medical Research Council and the Technology Strategy Board, the Biomedical Catalyst provides responsive and effective support for the best life science opportunities arising in the UK. The programme is open to UK academics and SMEs and seeks to support those opportunities which demonstrate the highest scientific and commercial potential, irrespective of medical area. For further information please visit: http://www.innovateuk.org/content/competition/biomedical-catalyst.ashx.
About the Technology Strategy Board
The Technology Strategy Board is the UK’s innovation agency. Its goal is to accelerate economic growth by stimulating and supporting business-led innovation. Sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Technology Strategy Board brings together business, research and the public sector, supporting and accelerating the development of innovative products and services to meet market needs, tackle major societal challenges and help build the future economy. For more information please visit www.innovateuk.org.
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