Apitope International N.V.
Apitope Announces Publication of Graves’ Disease Data in International Peer-Reviewed Journal, Endocrinology
Apitope Announces Publication of Graves’ Disease Data in International Peer-Reviewed Journal, Endocrinology HASSELT, Belgium, and CHEPSTOW, UK, 14 August 2018 – Apitope, a clinical stage biotech company developing potential first-in-class antigen-specific immunotherapies targeting autoimmune diseases, today announces publication of its pre-clinical Graves’ disease data in Endocrinology, one of the leading peer-reviewed endocrinology medical journals. The publication entitled: Immunotherapy with apitopes(R) blocks the immune response to thyroid stimulating hormone receptor in HLA-DR transgenic mice[1], reports the results from a series of studies to identify peptides that can be used to treat the abnormal immune response to TSHR (thyroid stimulating hormone receptor) in Graves’ disease patients and can be found here. The study showed that a mixture of two immunodominant apitopes(R) was sufficient to suppress both the abnormal T cell and antibody response to TSHR in HLA-DR transgenic mice. Tolerance induction was not disrupted by current drug treatments for Graves’ disease. The paper concluded antigen-specific immunotherapy with apitopes(R) from TSHR is a suitable approach for the treatment of Graves’ disease. Dr Keith Martin, CEO of Apitope, said: “It is very encouraging to have these findings by our talented team of scientists published in Endocrinology, one of the most highly-regarded journals in the field. The data shows that immunotherapy with apitopes(R) is a suitable approach to be investigated for the treatment of Graves’ disease and demonstrate the potential to be the first disease-modifying treatment, as well as the first innovative therapy for Graves’ disease in more than 60 years.” Prof David Wraith, CSO of Apitope, said: “I am excited to see these data published because it provides further evidence of the broad applicability of the Apitope platform to identify peptide apitopes(R) to treat a wide range of autoimmune diseases. The initial clinical data announced earlier this year confirmed the potential for the apitopes(R) reported in this publication to make a significant impact in the treatment of Graves’ disease.” Optimum Strategic Communications Notes to Editors Apitope uses its novel, proprietary discovery platform to select and develop highly specific peptide-based therapeutics, known as “apitopes(R)” (antigen processing independent epitopes), that directly target the immunological basis of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), Graves’ disease and uveitis, as well as undesired immune responses against biologic therapeutics used in the treatment of life-threatening disorders such as haemophilia A. While current therapies for autoimmune diseases typically have the effect of suppressing the immune system, apitopes(R) modulate only the malfunctioning part of the immune system in order to avoid such global immune suppression. The apitope(R) mechanism of action and platform have the broad potential to treat a wide variety of autoimmune diseases. Apitope has a robust pipeline of innovative, potential first-in-class product candidates in clinical and pre-clinical development. Apitope’s lead product candidate ATX-MS-1467 is in development for the treatment of MS, and is ready to start a Phase IIb clinical trial. Apitope was founded in 2002 by Professor David Wraith, as a spin-out from the University of Bristol. It is based in Diepenbeek, Belgium, which is home to Apitope’s research and finance activities, and Chepstow, United Kingdom, where Apitope’s development and commercialisation activities are located. For more information please visit: https://apitope.com/ Autoimmune diseases There are at least 80 types of autoimmune diseases[2] including MS, Graves’ disease, and uveitis. Up to 50 million people are suffering from autoimmune disease in the U.S. alone[3], where it is one of the leading causes of death in women in all age groups up to 65[4]. Treatments for autoimmune diseases represent a large and active industry that has been gaining momentum, with five out of ten best selling drugs in 2016 targeting autoimmune diseases[5]. About Endocrinology Issuer: Apitope International N.V. Key word(s): Health
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