MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 12, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ChemoCentryx, Inc., (Nasdaq:CCXI), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing orally-administered therapeutics to treat autoimmune diseases, inflammatory disorders, and cancer, today announced that preclinical data using a series of orally-available inhibitors of the chemokine receptor known as CCR6, have been selected for a poster presentation at the 2016 Society for Investigational Dermatology Annual Meeting, being held May 11-14, 2016 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Poster Presentation:
Title: Chemokine Receptor Inhibition as a Novel Therapeutic Approach for Psoriasis (Abstract No. 521)
Session Title: Poster Session I
Session Date & Time: Thursday, May 12, 2016, 10:15 AM - 12:15 PM MST
Location: Herberger Ballroom, The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, AZ
Authors: Karen Ebsworth, Linda S. Ertl, Helen Wang, James J. Campbell, Ruiping Zhao, Jeffrey P. McMahon, Penglie Zhang, Israel F. Charo, Thomas J. Schall
“In the past several years, results from both preclinical models and clinical experience have revealed that Th17 cells and their signature cytokine IL17 have a critical role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis,” said Pirow Bekker, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of ChemoCentryx. “We and others have amassed data showing that Th17 cells are regulated by CCR6, and we previously reported that CCX9664, a small molecule inhibitor of CCR6, reduced skin inflammation in models of psoriasis, and reduced the number of IL17-secreting T cells in psoriatic skin. These new data demonstrate that additional novel CCR6 antagonists, developed by ChemoCentryx and from a different chemical class than CCX9664, have efficacy in models equivalent to results achieved with an antibody to the IL17 receptor, a known human therapeutic target.”
About CCR6 and Th17 Cells
Th17 cells are implicated in the development of a large number of autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis. A hallmark of Th17 cells is that they express high levels of the chemokine receptor known as CCR6. Additionally, high levels of the CCR6 chemokine ligand, CCL20, have been found in psoriatic skin, in rheumatoid arthritis joint biopsies, and in asthmatic lungs. ChemoCentryx believes that a CCR6 inhibitor may offer a unique approach to psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases, and has produced several unique CCR6 inhibitor lead medicinal chemical series in late preclinical development. Molecules are now being optimized with a view towards clinical development.
About Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease of scaling and inflammation that affects greater than 3 percent of the U.S. population, or more than 5 million adults. Although the disease occurs in all age groups, it primarily affects adults. It appears about equally in males and females. Psoriasis occurs when skin cells quickly rise from their origin below the surface of the skin and pile up on the surface before they have a chance to mature. In its typical form, psoriasis results in patches of thick, red skin covered with silvery scales. These patches, which are sometimes referred to as plaques, usually itch or feel sore. They most often occur on the elbows, knees, other parts of the legs, scalp, lower back, face, palms, and soles of the feet, but they can occur on skin anywhere on the body. The disease may also affect the fingernails, the toenails, and the soft tissues of the genitals, and inside the mouth.
About ChemoCentryx
ChemoCentryx, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing orally-administered therapeutics that target the chemokine and chemoattractant systems in order to treat autoimmune diseases, inflammatory disorders and cancer. The chemokine system is a biological network that regulates inflammation via a collection of secreted chemokine molecules, or ligands, and their specific cell surface receptors. Based on its proprietary drug discovery and drug development platform, ChemoCentryx has generated multiple clinical and preclinical-stage programs, each targeting distinct chemokine and chemoattractant receptors with different small molecule compounds. CCX168, a C5aR inhibitor, is in Phase II development for the treatment of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). CCX168 appears to be safe, well tolerated and successful in allowing reduction and elimination of high-dose steroids, part of standard of care for AAV patients, without compromising efficacy or safety in clinical studies to date. CCX168 is also in Phase II studies for the treatment of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) and immunoglobulin A nephropathy, or IgA nephropathy (IgAN). CCX872, a CCR2 inhibitor, successfully completed Phase I development and is in development for the treatment of non-resectable pancreatic cancer. CCX140, a distinct CCR2 inhibitor, successfully completed a Phase II clinical trial where it was shown to be safe and well tolerated while demonstrating statistically significant improvement in albuminuria in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Other clinical programs include CCX507, a next generation CCR9 inhibitor, which has successfully completed Phase I development, vercirnon (also known as Traficet-EN or CCX282) a specific CCR9 inhibitor for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, and CCX354, a CCR1 inhibitor which successfully completed a Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. ChemoCentryx also has several programs in advanced preclinical development.
Forward-Looking Statements
ChemoCentryx cautions that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Words such as "may," "could," "will," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "predict," "seek," "contemplate," "potential," "continue" or "project" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include the Company's statements regarding whether CCX9664 or the inhibition of CCR6 will be shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of psoriasis. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by ChemoCentryx that any of its plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in the ChemoCentryx business and other risks described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and ChemoCentryx undertakes no obligation to revise or update this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Further information regarding these and other risks is included under the heading "Risk Factors" in ChemoCentryx's periodic reports filed with the SEC, including ChemoCentryx's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC March 14, 2016 and its other reports which are available from the SEC's website (www.sec.gov) and on ChemoCentryx's website (www.chemocentryx.com) under the heading "Investors." All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
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