Phase 1 Study of PRX003 for the Treatment of Psoriasis

[Fred]

Another new treatment goes into phase 1 for the treatment of psoriasis, this one is from Prothena a late stage clinical biotechnology company and the treatment is PRX003 a monoclonal antibody for the potential treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases.

Quote:

---

Prothena Corporation plc, a late-stage clinical biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel protein immunotherapy programs, today announced the successful first human dosing in a Phase 1 clinical trial of its proprietary protein immunotherapy, PRX003. PRX003 is a monoclonal antibody targeting melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM) for the potential treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases.

"PRX003, our third program to advance into clinical development, further demonstrates our commitment to develop a robust pipeline of protein immunotherapies that have the potential to transform patients' lives," said Gene Kinney, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Research and Development for Prothena. "MCAM allows disease-causing immune cells to migrate into the surrounding tissues to initiate and/or maintain a pathogenic process and we believe that blocking this process holds tremendous promise for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. We look forward to assessing the safety and tolerability of PRX003 in subjects through this Phase 1 single ascending dose study and also expect to initiate a multiple ascending dose study in patients with psoriasis in 2016."

The Phase 1 clinical trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single ascending dose study designed to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity of PRX003. Prothena plans to enroll up to 40 subjects in the U.S.

About PRX003:
PRX003 is a monoclonal antibody for the potential treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases. Within the immune system, Th-17 white blood cells initiate the body's response to infections, and are known to be a key participant in both normal inflammatory reactions and autoimmune diseases. MCAM is expressed on the surface of Th-17 cells, and allows certain cells traveling in the blood stream to leave the circulation and enter tissues, primarily to initiate or continue a disease process. PRX003 is designed to block MCAM and not allow the migration of these pathogenic cells into tissues. PRX003 may be useful for treating a variety of inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, sarcoidosis, uveitis, vasculitis, and Behcet's disease.

About Prothena:
Prothena Corporation plc is a late-stage clinical biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel protein immunotherapy programs for the potential treatment of diseases that involve amyloid or cell adhesion. The company is developing antibody-based product candidates that target a number of potential indications including AL amyloidosis (NEOD001), Parkinson's disease and other related synucleinopathies (PRX002), and psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases (PRX003).

Source: ir.prothena.com

[jiml]

That's a great piece of news, not just for psoriasis sufferers but for patients with a host of autoimmune diseases ... Let's hope the phase one trial produces good results and they can move on
The fact that it may help MS sufferers as well, will I'm sure flag it up as one to watch in the future

Thanks again for the early reporting of this trial , I will watch with great interest any further developments.
I assume as its a monoclonal antibody drug that it will be injected rather than taken orally

[Quest4Cure]

This is a great new study. I can that monoclonal antibodies has shown great hope for many diseases.

Thanks for the great info.