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For more information on this press release please contact: |
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Capital MS&L contact: |
Dr Keith Martin |
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18 September 2006, Bristol, UK, Apitope Technology (Bristol) Ltd, the developer of peptide-based therapies, is pleased to announce the publication of preclinical results in the Journal of Neuroimmunology. The results further demonstrate the role of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in peptide therapies to treat Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases. In a paper, published this month in the Journal of Neuroimmunology (O’Neill et al. Journal of Neuroimmunology. (2006) 178, 1-8), O’Neill and colleagues at the University of Bristol, describe the essential role of IL-10 in peptide therapies for autoimmune diseases. The autoimmune disease in question is autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a preclinical model for MS. EAE is triggered by CD4+ T cells; specific for a range of antigens from myelin in the central nervous system. The administration of soluble peptides, designed to mimic the naturally processed myelin antigens, protects against and treats EAE. The team found that this did not occur in IL-10 knockout models. In normal functioning models, where IL-10 is produced by T-reg cells, the peptides were highly effective in treating this preclinical model of MS. “This is a very important finding that confirms the critical role of IL-10 in down regulating the autoimmune responses,” said Keith Martin, Chief Executive Officer of Apitope. “This is clearly an important therapeutic approach to autoimmune and allergic disorders.” In a separate paper, published recently in the Journal of Immunology (Nicolson et al. Journal of Immunology (2006) 176, 5329-5337), the team show that peptide therapy exerts its effectiveness through a novel type of IL-10 secreting regulatory CD4+ T cell. The repeated injection of soluble peptides, which mimic antigenic epitopes, builds up resistance against the immune response to harmful self antigens by inducing these IL-10 secreting regulatory cells. “Apitope has defined the rules governing the design of such therapeutic peptides (apitopes) and is developing treatments for various other autoimmune diseases,” added Professor David Wraith, Chief Scientific Officer of Apitope and Professor of Experimental Pathology at the University of Bristol. Apitope is on track to begin, before year–end, a Phase I clinical trial of ATX-MS-1467 in MS patients. Apitope has other treatments for allergic and autoimmune diseases in the pipeline. ENDS About Apitope Apitope Technology (Bristol) Ltd, is a biopharmaceutical company aiming to become a world leader in the treatment of allergy and autoimmune diseases with novel advantaged products representing major advances in therapy and addressing critical unmet needs. Founded in 2002, at the University of Bristol by Professor David Wraith and initially funded by Mr Richard Daniels, the company has established itself with an impressive record of commercial and technical achievement through highly qualified, inspired and enthusiastic management and scientists. |
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