Press Releases
Resolvyx Scientific Founder Publishes Breakthrough Study Demonstrating Resolvins Potently Inhibit Inflammation and Suppress Microbial Load in Sepsis Model
BEDFORD, MA — November 2, 2009 -- Resolvyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the leading resolvin therapeutics company, today announced that a research team led by a Resolvyx scientific co-founder, Charles Serhan, PhD, of Harvard Medical School, has demonstrated that the resolvin RvD2 is a potent inhibitor of inflammation in a preclinical model of sepsis. RvD2 is a compound in Resolvyx's portfolio of pre-clinical development candidates. Importantly, RvD2 sharply reduced microbial load and increased survival in this model without compromising the immune response. The paper, titled "Resolvin D2 is a potent regulator of leukocytes and controls microbial sepsis," published in the journal Nature (Nature 461(7268):1287 (2009)).
The research team evaluated RvD2 in a well-established mouse model of sepsis and showed that RvD2 sharply decreased both local and systemic bacterial burden, excessive cytokine production and neutrophil recruitment. RvD2 dramatically reduced circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines following the onset of sepsis, including IL-1β, TNFα, IL-6, IL-17, and IL-23. In addition, RvD2 decreased PGE2 and LTB4 levels in the peritoneum, reduced the numbers of live bacteria in both blood and peritoneum, and doubled the survival rate of treated mice at seven days.
"These results are very exciting because they demonstrate a key advantage of the Resolvin platform: potent resolution of inflammation without immunosuppression," said Phil Vickers, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Resolvyx. "This breakthrough study bolsters the rationale for advancing Resolvin therapeutics to treat a range of chronic inflammatory diseases, including indications that involve an ongoing microbial infection."
Resolvyx has recently completed a successful Phase 2 trial with a topical ophthalmic Resolvin, RX-10045, in a 232-patient randomized Phase 2 study in patients with chronic dry eye syndrome, and plans to initiate a Phase 3 trial with RX-10045 in 2010. Resolvyx is also completing 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 (like Crohn's disease, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis), allergic diseases (like asthma) and chronic inflammatory diseases (like 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.