BioAegis Therapeutics Signs Exclusive Option for Human Protein in Clinical Development

May 19, 2011 |

2 min read

BOSTON, MA and MORRISTOWN, NJ--(Marketwire - May 19, 2011) -

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http://www.bioaegistherapeutics.com

BioAegis Therapeutics announced today that they have entered into an Exclusive Option Agreement with Brigham and Women's Hospital for technology based on research of Dr. Thomas Stossel, Director, Translational Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and American Cancer Society Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and collaborators at Massachusetts General Hospital, University of Pennsylvania, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and BloodCenter of Wisconsin. This exclusive option to a worldwide license encompasses therapeutic and diagnostic uses of the technology for human and animal applications.

BioAegis Therapeutics' mission is to bring to patients products which maintain local inflammatory responses in balance, preventing systemic inflammation and its associated adverse outcomes. Studies suggest that the ability to achieve this balance is mediated by an endogenous human protein, plasma gelsolin (pGSN). Plasma gelsolin keeps local inflammation local, preventing systemic inflammation and damage to organs.

Commenting on this work, founding scientist Dr. Thomas Stossel said, "Plasma gelsolin is just beginning to reveal its fundamental role in immune function and inflammation. BioAegis is committed to a broad set of translational objectives which promise to deliver high value therapeutics to patients."

Plasma gelsolin is the fourth most prevalent protein in human blood and is highly physiologically relevant. The gene for this protein has been conserved across species going as far back as drosophila. Levels are known to be depleted in humans and in animal models in numerous acute and chronic diseases, ranging from orphan diseases such as multiple sclerosis to pneumonia, trauma, and end stage renal disease. In humans, depletion of pGSN correlates with severity of disease and the relative risk of adverse outcomes. Replacement of depleted pGSN prevents adverse outcomes in numerous animal models. This evidence strongly suggests that Plasma Gelsolin Deficiency or PGD may account for adverse outcomes in a variety of diseases.

Plasma gelsolin was previously studied in human patients. Data from the most recent study in ICU patients will be presented this week at the American Thoracic Society conference in Denver, CO.

Privately held BioAegis Therapeutics was founded by a group of highly experienced pharmaceutical and diagnostic executives, together with the founding scientists from Brigham and Women's Hospital.