FREMONT, Calif., March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a world leader in the discovery and development of RNAi-based therapeutics, announced today the dosing of the first patient in a Phase I study of the investigational neuroprotective agent, QPI-1007. This drug candidate, having a proprietary siRNA structure, is being developed for the treatment of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). The current trial represents the seventh clinical study of Quark synthetic siRNAs. QPI-1007 has been evaluated in several preclinical models of ocular neuroprotection, and has been shown in these models to protect retinal ganglion cells from injury-induced apoptosis.
Shai Erlich, Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of Quark, commented, “Based on the pre-clinical results we’ve seen for QPI-1007, we are pleased to initiate dosing in human clinical trials. QPI-1007 is a siRNA molecule with Quark’s proprietary structure and its entry into clinical trials reflects the Company’s success in developing novel siRNA compounds. These accomplishments further validate Quark’s ability to advance innovative product candidates from discovery into the clinic.”
QPI-1007 is Quark’s first siRNA drug candidate to utilize intellectual property developed internally in collaboration with BioSpring GmbH, and gives Quark freedom to operate in the siRNA IP space. Preclinical studies have demonstrated a robust neuroprotective effect of QPI-1007 when administered immediately after injury induced by optic nerve crush or axotomy in two models of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death as well as in a rat intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation model in which the drug was injected 2 weeks after IOP elevating operation.
About NAION
Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a leader in the discovery and development of novel RNAi-based drugs. Quark has a fully integrated drug development platform spanning therapeutic target identification to drug development. The Company’s technology platform includes novel disease targets and siRNA structures and chemistry, providing Quark with freedom to operate in the siRNA intellectual property arena. Quark’s approach to therapeutic delivery allows targeting of tissues and organs including the eye, kidney, ear, lung, spinal cord and brain.
Quark’s clinical pipeline includes QPI-1002, the first systemically administered siRNA drug in human clinical trials. QPI-1002 is being evaluated for the prevention of acute kidney injury (AKI) following major cardiovascular surgery and for the prophylaxis of delayed graft function (DGF) after kidney transplantation. Enrollment was successfully completed in a Phase I study and in the Part A portion of a Phase 1/2 studies in AKI and DGF, respectively. Quark has licenses for the structure for these product candidates from Silence Therapeutics and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals.
Quark is headquartered in Fremont, California and operates research and development facilities in Boulder, Colorado and Ness-Ziona, Israel. Additional information is available at www.quarkpharma.com.
CONTACT: Juliana Friedman, Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +972-89-30-5111,
jfriedman@quarkpharma.com, or Sara Pellegrino, +1-646-536-7002,
spellegrino@theruthgroup.com, or Janine McCargo, +1-646-536-7033,
jmccargo@theruthgroup.com, both of The Ruth Group (investors / media)
Web site: http://www.quarkpharma.com/
