PX’Therapeutics and Relief Therapeutics Announce Strategic Collaboration Agreement for the Recombinant Production of Atexakin Alfa

PX’Therapeutics, a subsidiary of the Aguettant group, a company that specializes in the customer-tailored development of recombinant proteins, and RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding AG (“Relief”, SIX : RLF), a biotechnology company dedicated to the clinical development of innovative molecules for the treatment of certain diabetes-related complications, respiratory disorders and rare diseases, have announced today a strategic collaboration agreement for the production of atexakin alfa, a low-dose formulation of the recombinant human protein interleukin-6.
This Medicinal Product Candidate (MPC) aims to fulfill an unmet medical
need in peripheral diabetic neuropathy by regenerating damaged nerve
fibers, stimulating remyelination and reducing neuropathic symptoms. No
existing marketed therapies for peripheral neuropathy are able to
regenerate damaged peripheral nerves. As such, therefore, atexakin alfa
could become the first truly disease-modifying drug for this condition.
In this project, PX’Therapeutics will develop an optimized production
process for recombinant interleukin 6, a 185-amino acids cytokine, in
CHO cells. PX’Therapeutics will also produce, in accordance with current
Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) guidelines, protein batches that
will be used for clinical trials.
Gaël Hédou, COO of Relief, comments: “This collaboration is a key step
in the advancement of the atexakin alfa project, and we are delighted to
be able to rely on the expertise of PX’Therapeutics to complete the
production necessary to implement our clinical trials”.
Claire Untereiner, COO of PX’Therapeutics adds: “We are looking forward
to this new collaboration with the Relief team for the development of
this promising molecule. Based on the low doses required, we hope to be
able to support Relief very far in its development, maybe even all the
way to market…”
About RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding AG:
RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding AG is a clinical-stage biotechnology company
with a portfolio of drug candidates derived from natural human origins.
Its two most promising drug candidates are aviptadil for the treatment
of sarcoidosis (already in Phase III) and low dose interleukin-6
(atexakin alfa) for the treatment of peripheral diabetic neuropathy
(already in Phase II). Aviptadil development in sarcoidosis focuses the
drug on an orphan disease market, in which European regulators have
indicated that a single pivotal Phase III trial would be sufficient to
support approval. Atexakin alfa is the subject of an exclusive worldwide
development and commercialization agreement with a division of the
global established pharmaceutical firm Merck KGaA, and has been the
subject of multiple clinical trials and representing a major capital
investment. Based on its unique mechanism of action, atexakin alfa could
become the first regenerative therapeutic for peripheral neuropathy. The
peripheral diabetic neuropathy market is estimated to reach $4.1 billion
in 2019, according to Datamonitor.
RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding AG is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under
the symbol RLF and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.
. For more information, please visit: www.relieftherapeutics.com
About PX’Therapeutics:
Located in Grenoble, PX’Therapeutics (a subsidiary of the pharmaceutical
group Aguettant) is a biotechnology company specializing in engineering,
process development and bioproduction of recombinant proteins, including
monoclonal antibodies. Since its incorporation in 2000, PX’Therapeutics
has played a very active role in the optimization, development and
production of target proteins or therapeutic candidates for public and
private laboratories and biotechnology companies based in Europe and
North America. For more information, please visit: www.px-therapeutics.com