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BioCryst’s Oral Factor D Inhibitor (BCX9930) Shows High Potency and Specificity for Alternative Pathway of Complement
—Data presented at the 62nd American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting— RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Dec. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioCryst
About this update from Biocryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"—Data presented at the 62nd American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting— RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Dec. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: BCRX) today announced that preclinical data on BCX9930, an oral Factor D inhibitor under development as monotherapy for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and other complement-mediated diseases, showed complete in vitro blockade of both hemolysis of PNH erythrocytes and accumulation of C3 fragments on PNH erythrocytes, indicating that BCX9930 monotherapy has the potential to inhibit both intravascular and extravascular hemolysis. In the study, BCX9930 was highly specific for the alternative pathway and, after oral dosing of BCX9930 in primates, alternative pathway activity was completely suppressed. The data were presented at the 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting being held as a virtual event, December 5-8, 2020. “These data demonstrate that BCX9930 is a highly potent and specific orally bioavailable Factor D inhibitor with potential for treatment of patients with PNH and other alternative pathway mediated diseases,” said Dr. William Sheridan, chief medical officer of BioCryst. “The preclinical results have translated as expected into the clinic, where we have seen oral monotherapy with BCX9930 drive rapid and dose-dependent reductions in key biomarkers, including LDH, and increase hemoglobin levels in PNH patients. We look forward to completing our proof of concept study in PNH and progressing into advanced development next year across multiple hematology and nephrology complement- mediated diseases,” Sheridan added. About BCX9930 Discovered by BioCryst, BCX9930 is a novel, oral, potent and selective small molecule inhibitor of Factor D currently in Phase 1 clinical development for the treatment of complement-mediated diseases. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted both Fast Track status and Orphan Drug designation for BCX9930 in PNH. In an ongoing dose ranging trial of BCX9930 in patients with PNH, BCX9930 was safe and well tolerated, with no drug-related serious adverse events. As a Factor D inhibitor, BCX9930 is designed as an oral monotherapy that can address both intravascular and extravascular hemolysis in PNH patients. Treatment-naïve PNH patients who have received more than six weeks of therapy at...