CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Peptimmune, Inc., a privately
held biotechnology company, announced today that President & CEO Thomas P.
Mathers will provide an update on the Company's current phase Ib clinical
trial for PI-2301 in multiple sclerosis patients at the three upcoming events:
1. BIO Investor Forum 2008. The presentation will take place on Wednesday,
October 29th, at 3:15 p.m. in the Pacific Room at the Palace Hotel in
San Francisco.
2. Oppenheimer 19th Annual Healthcare Conference. The presentation will
take place on Tuesday, November 4th, at 10:40 a.m. in the Louis XVI
Room at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.
3. Rodman & Renshaw 10th Annual Healthcare Conference. The presentation
will take place on Wednesday, November 12th, at 2:25 p.m. in the Adams
Room at the New York Palace Hotel in New York City.
PI-2301 is currently in a Phase Ib multiple-ascending dose, double-blind,
placebo-controlled randomized study in subjects with multiple sclerosis.
Following establishment of safety at potentially therapeutic doses and proof
of pharmacologic mechanism, the Company plans to initiate its Phase II study
in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients in early 2009.
PI-2301 is a second-generation peptide copolymer from a similar compound
class as Copaxone(R) (Teva Pharmaceuticals). PI-2301 has been designed to be
more efficacious and more convenient (weekly versus daily dosing) than
Copaxone for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. PI-2301 works through immune
modulation by enhancing the regulatory response of the immune system and
thereby controlling the pathogenic autoimmune response observed in some
diseases. In a Phase I single ascending dose, double blind placebo controlled
randomized study, all doses of PI-2301 were safe and well tolerated, and no
serious adverse events were observed. Pharmacodynamic assays demonstrated
evidence of immune exposure consistent with the pharmacologic mechanism of
action for PI-2301, and dose-dependent pharmacokinetics was observed.
PI-2301 has been optimized using Peptimmune's novel platform peptide
chemistry and, in preclinical studies, has shown to be more potent and
effective than Copaxone in treating disease models for multiple sclerosis.
PI-2301 has also shown efficacy in preclinical models of autoimmune diseases
where immune modulation may be effective, such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid
arthritis, and autoimmune uveitis. Peptimmune has put in place high-quality
synthesis and analytical methods that provide a superior level of
batch-to-batch reproducibility in the manufacturing of PI-2301.
Over 400,000 Americans have multiple sclerosis (MS), and MS may affect
over 2.5 million individuals worldwide. MS is an autoimmune disease in which
the individuals' immune system responds against multiple components of
nerve-insulating myelin. The effects of these immune-mediated attacks can
range from relatively benign to somewhat disabling to devastating, as
communication between the brain and other parts of the body is disrupted.
About Peptimmune
Peptimmune, Inc. is a privately held clinical stage biotechnology company
focused on the development of peptide therapies to improve the management of
chronic autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. The Company is in clinical
development with second-generation therapeutics that are expected to result in
safer and more effective products for multiple sclerosis and pemphigus
vulgaris. Current investors include New Enterprise Associates, MPM Capital,
Hunt Ventures, Boston Medical Investors, Silicon Valley Bank Capital, and
Genzyme Corporation.
