BEDFORD, Mass. & FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--()--Resolvyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the leading resolvin therapeutics company, today announced the presentation of data on its novel resolvins for the treatment of both ocular surface diseases and retinal diseases at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, being held May 3-7, 2009.
“We have multiple data presentations at ARVO that continue to expand our understanding of the potential for resolvins to treat both corneal and retinal eye diseases, based on the unique ability of resolvins to naturally inhibit key inflammatory processes, preserve the integrity of eye tissue and promote tissue repair”
In an oral presentation, Resolvyx and its collaborators reported new data on the company’s lead development candidate, RX-10045. RX-10045 is currently in development to treat dry eye, a disease that affects more than 30 million people in the US. This study showed that RX-10045 promotes tissue repair in human corneal epithelial cells in vitro in a dose dependent manner. This finding may expand the potential benefits of the compound beyond its previously reported anti-inflammatory effects. RX-10045 is currently being evaluated in a randomized, controlled clinical trial in patients with chronic dry eye. The trial is fully enrolled and the last patient is anticipated to complete dosing in May 2009.
Three additional presentations reported results from animal models of wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). In one study, Resolvyx and its collaborators demonstrated for the first time that topical administration of the resolvin, RX-10045, to the ocular surface significantly reduces both choroidal vascular leakage and choroidal neovascularization in the laser-induced mouse CNV model. This result creates the possibility of a topical eye drop formulation of a resolvin to treat retinal diseases. Resolvyx scientists and collaborators also reported for the first time that perenteral administration of RX-10008 and RX-20001 (NPD1) inhibited choroidal neovascularization in this mouse model of wet AMD.
Resolvyx made a total of five presentations on its resolvin drug candidates at the ARVO annual meeting.
"We have multiple data presentations at ARVO that continue to expand our understanding of the potential for resolvins to treat both corneal and retinal eye diseases, based on the unique ability of resolvins to naturally inhibit key inflammatory processes, preserve the integrity of eye tissue and promote tissue repair," said Per Gjorstrup, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of Resolvyx Pharmaceuticals. "We are encouraged by this further evidence of the potential clinical value of resolvins and look forward to the results from our human clinical trial of RX-10045 in dry eye this summer."
About Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry eye syndrome is one of the most common problems treated by eye physicians. An estimated 9 million Americans suffer from moderate to severe dry eye and an additional 20 to 30 million Americans have milder cases of dry eye,1 with worldwide prevalence of the disease closely paralleling that of the US. Dry eye is a chronic multifactorial disease of the tears and ocular surface that results in symptoms of discomfort, visual disturbance, and tear film instability with potential damage to the ocular surface. It is accompanied by increased osmolarity of the tear film and inflammation of the ocular surface. Dry eye can make it more difficult to perform some visual activities for an extended period of time, and it can decrease tolerance for dry environments.
About AMD
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a retinal degenerative disease that causes a progressive loss of central vision. AMD is the most common cause of vision loss in individuals over 55. An estimated 8 to 10 million people in the U.S. either have AMD or are at substantial risk of developing it, with 1.7 million suffering from advanced stage AMD. AMD causes deterioration of the macula in the eye, which is a tiny structure in the middle of the retina that is responsible for central vision.
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 immuno-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 more than 55 patents and applications.
The company's headquarters are in Bedford, Massachusetts. For additional information, please visit http://www.resolvyx.com.
1 Source for dry eye prevalence data: Schepens Eye Research Institute, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, 2009.
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