Cantex hopes to enter a Phase II trial to study the efficacy of Azeliragon in the treatment of Covid-19.
The Office of Technology Department at Harvard University has provided the license to Cantex Pharmaceuticals for Development of Drug Azeliragon for the treatment of inflammatory lung disease.
Azeliragon is currently in the clinical stage and it works by binding to and inhibiting RAGE protein. When the lung gets infected by a viral or bacterial pathogen, these micro-organisms release molecules called DAMPs which activate RAGE protein.
Azeliragon prevents the activation of RAGE protein, thereby exerting its anti-inflammatory effect. Currently, it is the only small-molecule antagonist of RAGE protein under observation in human trials.
Azeliragon has been shown to limit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6, IL-8, IP-10, and RANTES. The research proving this was conducted at a Human Lung Alveolus Chip at the Wyss Institute.
The Human Lung Alveolus is a microfluidic device consisting of blood vessels and air sacs, mimicking the function of a human lung and disease conditions.
Considering the available data, trials of 2nd phase are likely to kickstart by this year to assess Azeliragon in serious COVID patients.
Moreover, the company is arranging drugs trials to cure other diseases such as steroid-refractory asthma and to assess its reaction in breast cancer patients.
In the past, Azeliragon was used for Alzheimer’s disease and diabetic nephropathy, where it was proven to be safe in Phase III clinical trials with upward of 2,000 subjects.
The company’s Chief Executive Officer Stephen Marcus noted “ Thanks to the great work of the scientists at the Wyss Institute, we now have compelling evidence that Azeliragon may have the potential to prevent severe Covid-19 illness in the form of a once-a-day pill.”
“We’re excited to have the opportunity to conduct clinical trials of Azeliragon for this disease, seeking to bring this groundbreaking therapy to patients to prevent the life-threatening inflammation that is the major cause of hospitalization and death from Covid-19 infection said Stephen Marcus, M. D., CEO of Cantex.
