Press Releases
Resolvyx and Collaborators Publish Study Showing Potential of Neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1) To Treat Neovascular Eye Disease
BEDFORD, MA — March 12, 2010 -- Resolvyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the leading resolvin therapeutics company, today announced that a research team including Resolvyx's Chief Medical Officer, Per Gjorstrup, M.D., Ph.D., has published a preclinical research study demonstrating that neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1) effectively suppresses ocular neovascularization driven by endothelial cell growth in an established model of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is increasingly recognized that neovascularization is a pathological process secondary to inflammatory events in several serious ocular diseases that lead to blindness, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy. NPD1 is the Resolvyx development candidate RX-20001, and is a naturally occurring, small molecule lipid mediator derived from the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The paper, entitled "Neuroprotectin D1 Attenuates Laser-induced Choroidal Neovascularization in Mouse," was published on March 2, 2010, in the journal Molecular Vision.
"This study demonstrated that NPD1 is a potent inhibitor of choroidal neovascularization and endothelial cell proliferation, which are pathological processes in AMD, diabetic retinopathy, and other serious ocular diseases" said Per Gjorstrup, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of Resolvyx. "These exciting results bolster the rationale for advancing Resolvin therapeutics to treat a range of inflammatory and neovascular ophthalmic diseases."
The research team, led by Dr. Nicolas Bazan at the Department of Ophthalmology and the Neuroscience Center of Excellence at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, evaluated NPD1 (RX-20001) versus vehicle control in the mouse model of AMD. In the model, choroidal neovascularization is induced by laser rupture of Bruch's membrane. Seven days after membrane rupture, NPD1-treated mice had 60% fewer clinically relevant leakage lesions than controls, dropping to 80% fewer by 14 days. Volumetric immunofluorescence revealed a 46% reduction in vascular endothelial cell volume in mice treated with NPD1 for 7 days, relative to controls. By 14 days, NPD1 treatment reduced cell volume by 68% relative to controls. The results are remarkable in that treatment occurred for one week only, yet continued improvement was seen during the second week of observation, suggesting that NPD1 induces lasting proresolution effects.
Resolvyx is conducting on-going preclinical studies of RX-20001, evaluating its potential for a number of inflammatory diseases. In addition, Resolvyx has two resolvin compounds in human clinical trials. Resolvyx recently completed a successful Phase 2 trial in chronic dry eye patients with a topical ophthalmic Resolvin analog, RX-10045, and plans to initiate a Phase 3 trial with RX-10045 in 2010. In addition, Resolvyx has completed a Phase 1 trial with an orally formulated Resolvin, RX-10001 (RvE1).
About Resolvins
Resolvins are a recently discovered family of naturally-occurring, small molecule lipid mediators that can be targeted to treat a wide range of diseases. In particular, Resolvins act to protect healthy tissue during an inflammatory response to infection, injury or other environmental challenge, and then act to resolve inflammation and promote healing after the insult has passed. Resolvins are shown to be highly potent and efficacious in pre-clinical models of asthma, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, dry eye and retinal disease, among others.
Resolvins are potential drug candidates to treat a broad range of acute and chronic diseases caused by a failure to resolve the inflammatory response and restore immune homeostasis. Such diseases include auto-immune diseases (e.g. Crohn's disease, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis), allergic diseases (e.g. asthma) and chronic inflammatory diseases (e.g. atherosclerosis, degenerative retinal diseases, chronic dry eye and Alzheimer's disease). Resolvins offer an entirely novel biological approach to treating significant inflammatory diseases, with a decreased potential for immuno-suppression.
About Resolvyx Pharmaceuticals
Resolvyx Pharmaceuticals is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of resolvins, a novel class of therapies to treat inflammatory diseases and their complications. Resolvyx's drug R&D programs are focused on characterizing and developing resolvin-based compounds. With its experienced management team, world-class scientists and leading investors, Resolvyx is well-positioned to capitalize on its extensive portfolio of over 80 patents and applications.
The company's headquarters are in Bedford, Massachusetts. For additional information, please visit http://www.resolvyx.com.