InflammX Therapeutics Enters into Worldwide License Agreement with GSK to Develop and Commercialize its Inflammasome targeting program
Tampa, FL, November 16, 2021 - InflammX Therapeutics, Inc. (InflammX), a privately held biopharmaceutical company, announced it has entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) to develop and commercialize Xiflam an orally available NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor with broad application across a wide variety of inflammatory diseases. Initially InflammX will focus on the indications of Diabetic Macular Edema along with Diabetic Kidney Disease and the Geographic Atrophy form of Macular Degeneration, with two Phase 2B studies commencing in the second quarter of 2022.
“InflammX technology is designed to treat diseases upstream and in a less selective manner by shutting down the assembly and subsequent cycling of the inflammasome pathway of inflammation” said Dr Brian Levy, Chief Executive Officer of InflammX. “The license from GSK is a key transaction enabling InflammX to advance our discoveries immediately into Phase 2B clinical trials and become one of the most advanced inflammasome directed companies.”
Dr. Philip J Rosenfeld, Professor of Ophthalmology at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and a Board Member of InflammX commented that “Xiflam’s unique mechanism of action and ability to cross the blood brain and retinal barriers provides a novel therapeutic approach for treating retinal diseases that can be orally administered and capable of treating both eyes. This is disruptive technology that can provide a clinically needed alternative for treating the millions of patients with diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration”.
David S. Boyer, MD, renowned ophthalmologist with Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group and a Board Member of InflammX noted “the InflammX approach of targeting the inflammasome in ophthalmology is unique but has significant backing in the scientific community. I am personally very excited to be involved in targeting the ocular inflammation in DME and GA. I believe that Xiflam will be a game changing therapy”.
About InflammX
InflammX is a privately held biotech company that is targeting the inflammasome pathway of inflammation. InflammX research has identified the key trigger for inflammasome activation and our programs target that key trigger. Its lead product Xiflam will enter Phase 2B clinical trials in the 2nd quarter 2022 following manufacture of drug product, nearing completion. InflammX has a follow on pre-clinical peptide program that will also be developed following additional funding being raised.
About the NLRP3 Inflammasome
The inflammasome is a multiprotein complex that forms inside cells. It is essential for function of the innate immune system, the body's first response to any insult such as pathogenic organisms, foreign substances, or sterile stressors. Although only discovered in 2002, the inflammasome has been linked to multiple major disease conditions. The inflammasome has two triggering signals, a priming signal (the initial insult) and an activation signal that enables its assembly. Activation and assembly of inflammasome complexes results in the release and recycling of multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines. If not terminated, this dynamic perpetuated immune response contributes to long lasting autoinflammation. Xiflam blocks activation signaling, breaking the persistent recycling of the inflammasome that is a feature of those diseases.
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For further information please contact:
David Pool, CFO, InflammX Therapeutics, Inc.
Phone: +1 858-405-9271
E-mail: david@inflammx.com