Corbus Pharmaceuticals Announces Presentation of Positive Data on Anti-Fibrotic Effects of Resunab(TM) in a Preclinical Model of Lung Fibrosis at the Experimental Biology 2015 Scientific Conference
Marketwired
NORWOOD, MA--(Marketwired - Apr 1, 2015) - Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: CRBP) (the Company), a clinical stage drug development company focused on the treatment of rare, life-threatening inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, announced today that positive pre-clinical data on the anti-fibrotic effects of Resunab™ will be presented today at the Experimental Biology 2015 scientific conference.
Abstract number LB744 entitled, "Anti-Fibrotic Effect of Ajulemic Acid in Bleomycin-Induced Lung Fibrosis," will be presented during today's Late-Breaking Abstracts poster session focused on respiratory physiology from 12:30-2:15 p.m. EDT in Hall B at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in Boston, Massachusetts. The Abstract will be presented by Monica Lucattelli, Ph.D., Researcher at the University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
Resunab, a proprietary ultrapure version of ajulemic acid with CB2 selectivity, is a novel synthetic oral drug with unique activity that resolves inflammation and progressive fibrosis. The data from the study conducted in animals with lung fibrosis induced by bleomycin demonstrated that oral treatment with Resunab at dose levels comparable to those safely administered to human subjects in Phase I trials significantly decreased fibrotic responses.
Additionally, there was a marked decrease by Resunab of TGF-β and CTGF expression, a significant reduction of α-SMA positive myofibroblasts and a significant increase of PPAR-γ expression observed in the Resunab treated animals. The study also concluded that Resunab exerted potent anti-fibrotic effects in bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis when administered at the initiation and during the ongoing fibrogenic phase.
"This animal study in this well validated model of pulmonary fibrosis adds to our growing body of data and provides additional pre-clinical confirmation of Resunab's potency in resolving inflammation and fibrosis," said Mark A. Tepper, Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer of Corbus Pharmaceuticals. "The fact that anti-fibrotic effects were observed during early and later development stage of fibrosis in this model serves to validate Resunab's potential for the treatment of ongoing fibrotic diseases."
The abstract has been published online in The FASEB Journal, The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, (April 2015 vol. 29:LB744, no. 1 Supplement).
This study was conducted by Corbus Pharmaceuticals' collaborators M. Lucattelli, E. Selvi and G. Lungarella at the Life Sciences University of Siena, Italy; S. Fineschi, E. Garcia Gonzales, E. Balistrieri, S. Lorenzini, and M. Galeazzi at the Medicine and Immunological Sciences University of Siena, Siena Italy; and J.H.W. Distler at the Internal Medicine University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen Germany.
About Resunab™ Resunab™ is a novel synthetic oral drug with unique activity that resolves inflammation and pro-fibrotic processes. Pre-clinical and Phase 1 clinical studies have shown Resunab to have a favorable safety profile coupled with promising potency in pre-clinical models of inflammation and fibrosis. Resunab binds to the CB2 receptor on immune cells and triggers resolution of inflammation and a reduction of pro-inflammatory pathways, in effect turning chronic inflammation "off," without causing immunosuppression.
About Corbus Pharmaceuticals Corbus Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics to treat rare life-threatening inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. Our lead product candidate Resunab™ is a novel oral drug that resolves chronic inflammation and pro-fibrotic processes. Resunab is scheduled to commence Phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of cystic fibrosis and diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) in 2015. For more information, please visit www.CorbusPharma.com.
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