Active Biotech has selected a Candidate Drug, ABR-215757, within the SLE project for further development into clinical phase.
The SLE project is included in the company's "competence platform Q". Other projects based on this competence are: SAIK-MS that currently is in Phase II clinical development for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, the prostate cancer project TASQ which is planned to enter Phase I during the spring 2003, and the pre-clinical discovery project IMO-A.
The Candidate Drug ABR-215757 is developed for the treatment of SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus), which is an autoimmune disease with very few available treatments today. The disease affects mainly women of fertile age and progresses in flares with relatively symptom free periods in between. Current treatments of SLE are NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), corticosteroids, antimalarians or cytotoxic drugs like for example Cyclophosphamide. The autoimmune attack affects several different organ systems and many patients suffer from serious secondary disease symptoms such as renal disorders as the disease progresses.
No new product has been registered for the treatment of this disease since more than forty years.
Active Biotech's Candidate Drug ABR-215757 has shown good effect in pre-clinical models for autoimmune diseases, among them SLE, and shows a favourable toxicological profile. According to plan the company estimates that this product will enter clinical development in 2003.
The company regards the Intellectual Property rights as very strong for this project, since ABR-215757 is included in the extensive patent portfolio covering the competence platform Q.
Background
SLE- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - is a connective tissue disease that causes inflammation and injuries anywhere in the body. The progression and symptoms associated with this disease varies largely, depending on which organs that are involved in the disease. Approximately 1 out of 20 000 individuals is affected and it is most common among young women.
Lund 24 June 2002
Active Biotech AB (Publ)
Sven Andréasson, President & CEO