Oxycodone possesses solid expertise in oxidative DNA damage and DNA Damage Response and develops new treatment strategies for cancer and inflammation based on this knowledge. The company has two drug candidates in development; OXC-101 for the treatment of cancer and OXC-201 for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Oxcia evaluates psoriasis as a new indication
OXC-101 is in clinical development for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Now, new research findings suggest that the drug candidate may also be effective in autoimmune T-cell-driven diseases – such as psoriasis.
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by an overactive immune response, which leads to excessive cell division in the skin and painful symptoms for the patient. The disease manifests itself through rashes and scaly skin and can also affect the joints and the cardiovascular system.
Clinical and preclinical findings
Oxcia's hypothesis is that the mitotic MTH1 inhibitor OXC-101 could be effective against psoriasis. This hypothesis was strengthened by an interesting observation in the company's clinical trial with OXC-101 for advanced solid cancers, which also included exploratory endpoints to evaluate potential effects on autoimmune co-morbidities. One of the cancer patients participating in the study also suffered from severe plaque psoriasis, and the patient's psoriasis showed clear improvement after treatment with OXC-101.
The candidate has also shown good effects in disease models for psoriasis. Among other things, preclinical research shows that OXC-101 kills activated T cells and reduces levels of cytokines involved in psoriasis.
Oxcia's founder presented at conference
Research also shows that cancer cells and activated T cells have many similarities. As in cancer, oxidative stress plays an important role in the disease process in psoriasis. In addition, increased levels of the enzyme MTH1, which is part of the body's defense against oxidized DNA damage, have been seen in human psoriatic skin.
The findings were presented by Oxcia's founding professor Thomas Helleday at the 13th edition of the symposium Pharmaceutical Profiling in Drug Discovery and Development, arranged by Uppsala University on January 23–24.
CEO comment: Oxcia continues research
Based on the research results, Oxcia's CEO, Ulrika Warpman Berglund, great potential in OXC-101 as a new treatment strategy for psoriasis and confirms that the company will continue to evaluate the area:
– We feel very inspired by the results and Oxcia is now continuing its exploratory research in psoriasis and other autoimmune T-cell driven diseases, she writes in a press release.
BioStock contacted Ulrika Warpman Berglund to gain deeper insight into the company's investments in psoriasis.
Could you first tell us a little more about OXC-101's mechanism of action and how it differs from existing treatments for psoriasis?
– OXC-101 is active in cells that have high oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage, i.e. cancer cells and certain immune cells, such as activated T cells (a certain type of immune cell). T cells are activated in autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis. OXC-101 kills activated T cells in psoriasis and reduces the infiltration of various immune cells into the skin. In addition, OXC-101 reduces levels of, among others, TNFalpha, IL17 and IL23, three important substances for psoriasis to occur. The result is reduced division of skin cells, inflammation and improved psoriasis.
– Existing treatment consists of topical (skin) treatment with primarily steroids or for moderate/severe psoriasis cases there are, among others, biological drugs such as TNFalpha, IL17 or IL23 inhibitors. OXC-101 offers a new and broader way to attack the disease-driving mechanisms in psoriasis.
In the clinical trial for solid tumors, you observed an improvement in a patient with severe psoriasis. How significant was this improvement and how did it manifest?
– In the clinical study for solid tumors, a patient was treated who had had widespread plaque psoriasis on large parts of the body since adolescence. When the patient started taking OXC-101, a significant improvement in the skin was seen within a relatively short time. Approximately 3 months of treatment with OXC-101 almost completely cured the symptoms, an effect that remained for a couple of months after the end of treatment. Psoriasis doctors have commented that the effect is as good as they see with the most effective biological drugs.
»When the patient started taking OXC-101, a significant improvement in the skin was seen within a relatively short time. Approximately 3 months of treatment with OXC-101 almost completely cured the problem«
What is your strategy for taking OXC-101 further in the psoriasis segment, and how will the investment be financed?
– We are now looking for partners for OXC-101 in the psoriasis segment, who have experience and knowledge in dermatological diseases and have the ability to take the product all the way to market.
Will this new initiative have any impact on your cancer program?
– No, this new investment has no impact on the cancer treatment program. Last fall, we made a strategic decision to focus on OXC-101 development in blood cancers (AML). We have various academic collaborations for the solid tumor program with investigator-led clinical studies that continue in parallel with the other activities.