Author Topic: Here comes another monoclonal antibody--vatelizumab  (Read 140 times)

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Offline agate

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Here comes another monoclonal antibody--vatelizumab
« on: November 06, 2014, 02:30:59 pm »
From MarketWatch, November 4, 2014:

Quote
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov 04, 2014 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Genzyme, a Sanofi company, announced today enrollment of the first patient in a multicenter Phase II clinical trial to evaluate Genzyme’s investigational infusion therapy vatelizumab in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The trial, called EMPIRE, is designed to assess the efficacy of vatelizumab vs. placebo in RRMS patients. The safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of vatelizumab will also be assessed.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Uncontrolled inflammation within the CNS leads to inflammatory damage that is associated with demyelinating lesions and neurodegeneration in patients with MS.

Vatelizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets VLA-2, a collagen-binding integrin expressed on activated lymphocytes. The mechanism of action of vatelizumab is not known, although it is hypothesized to block VLA-2 on activated immune cells, leading to interference with collagen-binding in areas of inflammation, and thus may reduce the inflammatory cascade in MS.


The article can be seen here.
MS Speaks--online for 17 years

SPMS, diagnosed 1980. Avonex 2001-2004. Copaxone 2007-2010. Glatopa (glatiramer acetate 40mg 3 times/week) since 12/16/20.

Offline agate

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Re: Here comes another monoclonal antibody--vatelizumab
« Reply #1 on: November 11, 2014, 03:01:59 pm »
More on vatelizumab from the MS Foundation's periodical, MS Focus, November 5, 2014:

Quote
First patient enrolls in Phase II trial to evaluate vatelizumab




Genzyme has enrolled its first patient in a multicenter Phase II clinical trial to evaluate vatelizumab in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. The trial, called EMPIRE, will assess the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of vatelizumab.

Vatelizumab is an antibody that targets VLA-2, a collagen-binding integrin expressed on activated lymphocytes. Vatelizumab is thought to block VLA-2 on activated immune cells, and thus may reduce the inflammatory cascade in MS.

“Continuous inflammation and neurodegeneration from the onset of multiple sclerosis can lead to significant disability,” said Eva Havrdova, M.D., Ph.D., MS Center, Department of Neurology, First Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague. “The EMPIRE trial should enable us to assess vatelizumab’s ability to impact the acute inflammatory components of MS and evaluate its potential as an effective MS treatment.”

Genzyme is developing vatelizumab in MS in partnership with Glenmark Pharmaceuticals. EMPIRE is a global phase 2a/2b double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study assessing the effectiveness, safety and dose-response of vatelizumab in patients with active RRMS. The study duration is 12 weeks and is expected to enroll 168 patients at 55 sites in 10 countries.

MS Speaks--online for 17 years

SPMS, diagnosed 1980. Avonex 2001-2004. Copaxone 2007-2010. Glatopa (glatiramer acetate 40mg 3 times/week) since 12/16/20.