Compound Discovery
Immupharma PLC
22 August 2007
For Immediate Release 22 August 2007
ImmuPharma PLC
ImmuPharma discovers new lead drug candidate for inflammation
ImmuPharma PLC (LSE:IMM), ('ImmuPharma' or the 'Company'), the specialist drug
discovery and development company, announced today that following its discovery
activities on its chemical library, it has discovered a new molecular series
with potential application in inflammatory/allergic conditions such as asthma
and rheumatoid arthritis. These molecules, in the programme code-named
IPP-201007, have utility as selective phospholipase A2 subtype inhibitors and
are already patented through ImmuPharma's library broad patent.
ImmuPharma's long-term pipeline includes a proprietary library or over 300,000
small molecules with a 70% drug likeness. These large number of molecules are
all patent-protected, with the patent already having been issued in a number of
countries including the United States. The present discovery is also paving the
way for newly patented additional chemical libraries expanding thereby the scope
of our primary proprietary library.
Dr Robert Zimmer, MD, PhD, ImmuPharma's Chief Scientific Officer commented:
'The discovery of these exciting molecules and their derivatives validates our
long-term pipeline prospects and are just the first of other potential lead
drugs to be discovered from our libraries of molecules. IPP-201007 further
augments our pipeline of lead drugs in building a pharma company'.
For further information please contact:
ImmuPharma PLC:
Dimitri Dimitriou, Chief Executive Officer +44 20 7152 4080
Dr Robert Zimmer, President & Chief Scientific Officer + 33 389 32 7650
Richard Warr, Chairman +44 20 7152 4080
Buchanan Communications + 44 20 7466 5000
Lisa Baderoon
Rebecca Skye Dietrich
Landsbanki Securities (UK) Limited
Thilo Hoffmann +44 20 7426 7710
For company information, visit www.immupharma.com
Notes to Editors:
About ImmuPharma
ImmuPharma PLC is a drug discovery and development company headquartered in
London, UK and quoted on AIM of the London Stock Exchange (LSE:IMM). It has
research operations in France (ImmuPharma (France) SA) and Switzerland
(ImmuPharma AG). ImmuPharma is dedicated to the development of novel drugs,
largely based on peptide therapeutics, to treat serious medical conditions such
as autoimmune diseases characterised by:
* blockbuster potential in niche markets
* low promotional costs in few specialised physicians and centres and
* lower risk of drug development and lower development costs
ImmuPharma is a currently developing drug candidates for three different medical
conditions, each of which would represent a significant breakthrough in its
field. The furthest advanced drug candidate targets Lupus, a disease for which
there is currently no cure or specific treatment. The other two address moderate
to severe pain (such as that experienced by cancer sufferers and post-operative
patients), and MRSA and similar severe hospital-acquired resistant infections.
All three have significant sales potential as well as low marketing costs and a
relatively low risk of development failure. One or more have the potential to be
fast-tracked by the US Food and Drug Administration according to 'Guidance for
Industry: Fast Track Drug Development Programs - Designation, Development and
Application Review' issued July 2004 and could therefore obtain their market
authorization by 2010.
Key to the potential success of ImmuPharma is its unique collaborative agreement
with Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France's scientific research
institution. This agreement grants ImmuPharma worldwide exclusive rights to
exploit certain key discoveries.
In addition to its three leading drug candidates, ImmuPharma has a drug
development pipeline using its rights to a virtual chemical library of hundreds
of thousands of molecules as well as an innovative technology for converting
peptides to drug candidates.
ImmuPharma has the option to commercialise its assets itself or to license them
to other pharmaceutical companies at an earlier stage.
The products
Treatment of Lupus (IPP-201101)
This is a long-term treatment for Lupus, a chronic, life-threatening autoimmune
disease where the immune system attacks healthy cells. There is currently no
cure and existing medications only treat the symptoms whereas ImmuPharma's drug
candidate has the potential to produce remission of the disease in a substantial
proportion of patients.
Based on independent forecasts, the value of ImmuPharma's Lupus drug is
estimated to be 'substantial' with peak annual sales forecast to generate in
excess of $4 billion.
Severe pain relief (IPP-102199)
ImmuPharma is developing a potential non-addictive compound for relieving
moderate to severe pain, such as experienced by cancer sufferers and
post-surgical patients. Most existing treatments are derived from the opiate
morphine and tend to have serious side effects. ImmuPharma's new treatment is
based on met-enkephalin, the body's internal analgesic. IPP-102199 is being
developed to have major advantages over morphine such as longer pain relief
duration and reduced side effects. The market for chronic opioids in the US
currently exceeds $3.5 billion and is growing by more than 10 to 20 per cent a
year.
Antibiotic for MRSA and similar highly resistant infections (IPP-203101)
This is a novel antibiotic to combat MRSA and other severe hospital-acquired,
resistant infections which affect some two million people in the US, according
to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ImmuPharma's drug
candidate is targeted at disrupting the membrane potential of the bacterial
pathogens. It is hoped this novel approach will reduce their potential to become
resistant.
PLA2 inhibitor for inflammatory and allergic disorders (IPP-201007)
Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) are enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of
phospholipids. This catalytic reaction is essential in the production of lipids
during various processes in the body, involving prostaglandins, leukotrienes,
thromboxanes, platelet activation factor and others. In certain cases, such
lipids mediators cause allergic reactions and a number of inflammatory
conditions such as asthma and other respiratory disorders, rheumatoid arthritis,
septic shock and acute pancreatitis are characterized by a significant increase
in PLA2 activity.
Selective inhibition of PLA2 subtypes can therefore reduce some of these
allergic reactions and inhibitors of PLA2 have already been shown to have
positive effect in inflammatory conditions. ImmuPharma believes this new
molecule has potential in becoming a drug for certain inflammatory conditions
and intends to progress its development. The drug could be in clinical trials as
early as 2009.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange