KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., July 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Cytokine PharmaSciences, Inc. today announced the initiation of a Phase I study of CPSI-2364, its orally active, small-molecule inhibitor of the production of TNF-alpha and other pro-inflammatory cytokines. Results of the dose escalation and safety study in healthy volunteers are expected before the end of the year.
CPSI-2364 is a chemically-modified form of the synthetic guanylhydrozone, semapimod. Semapimod has been shown to inhibit the signal transduction pathways that lead to the production of nitric oxide and important pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-8. Semapimod has demonstrated activity in multiple animal models of inflammation and autoimmune disease, proof-of-concept studies that led to human clinical trials. An intravenous formulation of semapimod was shown to have significant anti-inflammatory activity in Phase II clinical trials in Crohn’s disease, psoriasis and ERCP-induced pancreatitis. However, that formulation caused dose-limiting local reactions, such as phlebitis. To overcome this problem, the Company developed CPSI-2364, a more soluble salt of semapimod that makes oral dosing possible. Animal models have confirmed the oral activity of CPSI-2364.
Cytokine PharmaSciences, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in developing anti-inflammatory and autoimmune therapeutics. The Company is headquartered in King of Prussia (near Philadelphia), Pennsylvania. A wholly owned subsidiary, Controlled Therapeutics (Scotland) Limited (CT), is located in East Kilbride (near Glasgow). CT develops and manufactures controlled-release drug delivery products and has a strong focus in the area of women’s health, including manufacturing the successful cervical ripening product, the Cervidil(R) vaginal insert (Propess(R) in Europe and elsewhere). Cytokine PharmaSciences has three products in clinical development and employs 70 people at its locations in the U.S. and Scotland. For more information, please visit the company’s websites at www.cytokinepharmasciences.com and www.ctscotland.com.
Cytokine PharmaSciences, Inc.
