| Published June 11, 2021

Cereno Scientific is driving a paradigm shift in CVD  

Cardiovascular disease claims more victims than any other disease in the world and conventional treatments are simply not enough. A review published in The Lancet Health Longevity last week describes the benefits of epigenetic modulation in treating some of the most important pathophysiological mechanisms behind cardiovascular disease and how this opens up new opportunities for clinical studies in a wide range of diseases, not just cardiovascular diseases. In Sweden, the biotechnology company Cereno Scientific has already started to exploit such opportunities and has developed a strong drug development portfolio around epigenetic modulation.

BioStock has taken a closer look at this.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an umbrella term that refers to a wide range of conditions involving the heart and blood vessels. Most such disorders are caused by thrombotic events, such as the formation of occlusive blood clots within blood vessels. The number of people expected to suffer from such events is increasing, and current treatments, most of which aim to prevent blood clots, e.g. warfarin, Heparin or NOACs, often leads to heavy bleeding, which in itself can be life-threatening.

Lancet review describes epigenetic modulation in CVD

Developing treatments that can restore balance to the body's fibrinolytic system – the interplay of molecular mechanisms that prevent blood clots and excessive bleeding in normal situations – has been a major challenge for biotech and pharmaceutical companies. But now a recently published study describes review i The Lancet Healthy Longevity a paradigm shift in how to approach CVD treatment – ​​the application of epigenetic modulation with the potential to influence disease progression using molecules called histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi).

Epigenetic modulation stems from research conducted with valproic acid (VPA), a well-studied HDACi that was first synthesized in the late 1800th century. VPA was initially used as a treatment for epilepsy after researchers discovered its anticonvulsant properties in the 1960s. Since then, several other benefits of VPA have been identified. The review article in The Lancet describes several mechanisms associated with the antithrombotic, antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory and pressure-reducing properties of HDACi in the cardiovascular system, and how such mechanisms may affect a wide range of CVD indications.

BioStock contacted Dr. Faiez Zannad, one of the authors behind the article and also a member of Cereno Scientific's scientific council, to learn more about the exciting method of epigenetic modulation with HDACi in CVD and how it could completely change the treatment paradigm:

»Given the pleotropic properties of CS1's active substance being a HDACi with documented anti-thrombotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic and pressure-reducing effects gives it a unique position to be developed for a variety of cardiovascular diseases with a disease-modifying potential.«

Cereno Scientific is driving a paradigm shift

A biotechnology company whose vision is based on the benefits of such mechanisms and which drives the paradigm shift in the CVD field is Cereno ScientificEpigenetic modulation with HDACi for the treatment of CVD is the basis of the company's treatment strategy and Cereno currently has both a clinical and a preclinical program based on this strategy.

The clinical program, CS1, is based on a reformulation of VPA. Research conducted with CS1 has shown significant potential to restore balance to the body's fibrinolytic system, reducing the likelihood of blood clots while minimizing the risk of bleeding. Having published positive preclinical (antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic/antiproliferative and pressure-reducing properties) as well as Phase I clinical data with CS1, Cereno Scientific is now poised to initiate a Phase II study for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) – a rare, progressive CVD characterized by high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries and for which there is currently no curative treatment. The company was granted orphan drug designation for CS1 in PAH from FDA last year, a clear validation of Cereno's overall strategy for treating CVD.

Cereno Scientific's portfolio is not limited to PAH, however. In fact, current data already for CS1 indicate a potential to expand to additional indications. The company also has CS014, a preclinical program with an epigenetic modulator also based on HDACi mechanisms and being evaluated for the treatment of CVD. This program was acquired from Emeriti Bio in March 2019 and has since been developed in a collaboration between the two companies. Through a collaboration agreement with University of Michigan Cereno now aims to take CS014 to Phase I within 24 months. Read more here.

According to Cereno Scientific's CEO Sten R Sorensen The company can fill a gap in the field of CVD treatment with its HDACi epigenetic modulators that are already in development:

»We are one of the first with programs already in preclinical and clinical development utilizing the approach of HDACi epigenetic modulators in CVD. We believe that this could drive a shift within treatments for CVDs to the benefit of patients in great need. The validation of the approach from a prestigious publisher such as The Lancet Healthy Longevity strengthens both our scientific positioning and business case.«

The content of BioStock's news and analysis is independent, but BioStock's operations are to some extent financed by companies in the industry. This post refers to a company from which BioStock has received funding.