Proteolix, Inc. today announced that data from preclinical studies of carfilzomib and PR-957 will be presented at the 2009 ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting on October 16 - 21 in Philadelphia, PA.
Carfilzomib is the first in a new class of selective, irreversible proteasome inhibitors, and is currently enrolling patients in multiple oncology clinical trials, including a Phase 2 study in patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. PR-957 is Proteolix's preclinical-stage selective immunoproteasome inhibitor.
Data presented at the ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting support the role for proteasome inhibition - and specifically for targeting the immunoproteasome - in the treatment of autoimmune disorders. In oral presentations on Sunday October 18th, scientists from the University of Rochester Medical Center will present data that demonstrate carfilzomib and PR-957 block inflammatory pathways underlying lupus and involved in disease progression. In multiple mouse models of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), carfilzomib administration on its current clinical dose schedule was effective at reducing clinical signs of disease. These effects are also induced via selective inhibition of the immunoproteasome with PR-957, extending published results that PR-957 blocks disease progression in models of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune indications. On Monday Oct 19th, Proteolix scientists will present data that demonstrate PR-957 blocks human inflammatory T-cell function in vitro, further supporting the immunoproteasome as a target in autoimmune diseases. Taken together, these data provide a biologic rationale for use of proteasome inhibitors in SLE and other autoimmune disorders.