PARIS and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Peptimmune Inc. and Orphan Europe sarl have signed a Scientific Collaboration and License Agreement regarding the development of a peptide immunotherapy for the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris. The aim of the collaboration is to bring to market a new efficient drug to treat this rare, life-threatening, autoimmune skin disease.
Pemphigus vulgaris is characterized by blistering of the skin and the mucous membranes, and the patient will suffer progressive skin loss until sepsis occurs. If the disease is left untreated, the mortality rate is over 95% within five years. Today patients are treated with high-dose steroids for many years which may have serious, debilitating side effects, as well as with drugs suppressing the immune system. Pemphigus vulgaris is a rare disease: about 30 - 40,000 patients suffer from it worldwide with a concentration among the Ashkenazi Jewish population.
The goal of this new therapy is to selectively suppress the production of anti-desmoglein 3 autoantibodies, the pathogenic agent in pemphigus vulgaris. It is hoped that this will reduce or potentially eliminate the need for high dose steroids and immunosuppressants.
Peptimmune has conducted a phase 1 trial establishing the safety of the treatment and an orphan drug designation has been obtained in the USA. Orphan Europe will continue the development and conduct clinical trials to take the product through the regulatory process in Europe up to marketing authorization. Orphan Europe will then market the product in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
“The collaboration with Peptimmune reinforces our strategy to provide new treatments for rare diseases with an unmet medical need,” says Mr. William Gunnarsson, founder and CEO of Orphan Europe. “We have already taken several orphan drugs from laboratory test environment to market authorization and worldwide distribution. This project has a great potential to help patients who are in need of an effective and safe treatment.”
“This relationship leverages Peptimmune’s fundamental research of pemphigus vulgaris and Orphan Europe’s expertise in development and commercialization towards a new treatment paradigm for this very difficult to treat disease,” commented Thomas P. Mathers, President and CEO of Peptimmune.
About Peptimunne:
Peptimmune, Inc. is a privately held clinical stage biotechnology company developing a pipeline of peptide based therapeutics for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. The company is developing second generation therapeutics that are expected to result in safer and more effective therapies for multiple sclerosis, pemphigus vulgaris, rheumatoid arthritis and obesity. Founded by a team of world class scientists and led by an experienced management team, Peptimmune’s mission is to reduce the burden these diseases place on the individuals, their families and the healthcare system. For information, access our website at http://www.peptimmune.com.
About Orphan Europe
Founded in 1990, Orphan Europe is a privately held pharmaceutical company developing and distributing orphan drugs for the treatment of rare diseases. The company has a unique experience in this field and has taken several products through development process to market authorization. Today Orphan Europe provides a dozen different medicinal products to patients all over the world. The company headquarter is located in Paris and it has subsidiaries in most European countries, as well as in the Middle East. Orphan Europe is committed to the improvement of knowledge about rare disorders and has founded the Orphan Europe Academy.
For more information: http://www.orphan-europe.com and http://www.orphan-europe-academy.com
Peptimmune
CONTACT: Dustan Bonnin, Business Development of Peptimmune, Direct,+1-617-715-8043, or dustan.bonnnin@peptimmune.com
