VBL Therapeutics' VB-201 candidate delays onset of EAE, shows potential for MS, CNS treatment

VBL Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to the development of novel treatments for immune-inflammatory diseases and cancer, today announced the publication of preclinical data in the Journal of Neuroimmunology finding that its lead development candidate VB-201 significantly delayed the onset and severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice, the commonly used Multiple sclerosis (MS). These data further elucidate VB-201's mechanism of action and, for the first time, suggest an anti-inflammatory role of VB-201 in central nervous system (CNS) diseases including MS. The article appears in the September 14, 2010 issue of the journal.

“We are excited by these results, which suggest that VB-201 may have potential to treat MS, a disease in serious need of treatment options”

VB-201 is a phospholipid analog and the first in a new class of drug candidates called Lecinoxoids, which have been rationally designed to be orally available anti-inflammatory medicines. The published data detail studies performed by VBL to better understand VB-201's properties and explore its potential use as a treatment for MS and other CNS autoimmune diseases.

The researchers tested the ability of VB-201 to protect against the development of EAE. With a statistically significant difference between control and groups dosed with 0.04 and 0.4 mg/kg of VB-201, the data demonstrated that orally administered VB-201 prevented the development of EAE and inhibited the ability of adoptive T-cells to cause EAE. These data suggest that VB-201 and other oxidized phospholipids may play an anti-inflammatory role in CNS autoimmune diseases.

"We are excited by these results, which suggest that VB-201 may have potential to treat MS, a disease in serious need of treatment options," said Professor Dror Harats, M.D., chief executive officer of VBL. "We are currently evaluating VB-201 in a Phase 2 clinical trial to treat psoriasis, and it has also demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and atherosclerosis. We believe that these published data both broaden the clinical utility of VB-201 and suggest its potential as a chronic therapeutic option in the future. The results of this study will continue to inform our clinical strategy and help advance our mission to create treatments for life-threatening diseases inadequately addressed by current therapies."

Source : VBL Therapeutics