Biotech Tracker News - Small Study Supports DX-88 Development
March 10, 2003 Interim phase II data presented at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) confirmed the therapeutic potential of Dyax’s (NASDAQ: DYAX) DX-88 for the treatment of hereditary and acquired angioedema. DX-88 should move into phase III trials.  Nine patients with non life-threatening angioedema, both hereditary and acquired, were enrolled, and eight have been thus far treated. Each study subject received one of three doses (10, 40 and 80 mg) of DX-88 as a 10-minute intravenous infusion.  All study subjects experienced symptomatic relief, with time to relief ranging from 25 minutes to 3 hours. Time to symptom resolution ranged from 2 to 72 hours. An untreated hereditary angiodema episode lasts from a day or two to a week. The agent’s adversity profile was manageable and reassuring.  Dyax and Genzyme (NASDAQ: GENZ) are recruiting patients to the placebo-controlled phase II EDEMA1 (Evaluation of DX-88’s Effect on Mitigating Angioedema) study, which is enrolling patients 10 years of age or older who suffer from acute attacks of hereditary angioedema. Participants will be administered one dose by intravenous infusion, and will be followed for a period of 28 days.  DX-88 is a peptide inhibitor of the protein kallikrein, an elusive molecule involved in blood vessel responses to various stimuli. Its role in initiating a cascade of molecular events leading to increased vascular permeability, smooth muscle contraction, vasodilation, and pain is the prime therapeutic focus. A deficiency of C1 esterase inhibitor (C1- INH), a naturally occurring kallikrein inhibitor, is responsible for hereditary angioedema. When hereditary angioedema involves airway passages, it can be life threatening. Plasma derived C1-INH products are marketed in certain European countries, but are unavailable in the United States. DX-88 has orphan drug status in Europe and the U.S. for the management of hereditary angioedema.
DISCLAIMER The above information transmitted via BioPortfolio has been provided by the original publishers BiotechTracker ("BT") a financial information, news, and software service focusing on event-driven biotechnology and pharmaceutical research. The Service is provided by DPBT, LLC ("DPBT"). a joint venture formed between BT Investor, Inc. and PCS Research Technology, Inc. It is not guaranteed as to completeness or accuracy by BioPortfolio, the BT publishers, or any person. Such Information is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy the securities of any company. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice. The Information and views provided by BT are prepared by BT employees and in no way reflect the views or efforts of BioPortfolio Limited., any of BioPortfolio's employees or officers. BioPortfolio, and BioPortfolio's employees and officers, as well as BT’s employees and officers, in no way accept responsibility for any of the BT content published on www.bioportfolio.com/.  While all reasonable care has been taken to ensure that the Information contained herein is presented in good faith, and is not untrue or misleading at the time of publication, BioPortfolio, and BT make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and it should not be relied upon as such. The Information is supplied on the condition that the reader or any other person receiving the Information will make his or her own determination as to its suitability for any purpose prior to any use of the Information. From time to time, BioPortfolio and any officers or employees of BioPortfolio, as well as BT, and any officers or employees of BT, may, to the extent permitted by law, have a position or otherwise be interested in any transactions, in any investments (including derivatives) directly or indirectly the subject of this report. Also BioPortfolio and BT may, from time to time solicit business from any company mentioned in this report. This report is provided solely for the information of viewers of BioPortfolio and/or viewers and subscribers of BT and BioPortfolio information services, who are expected to make their own investment decisions without reliance on this report. Neither BioPortfolio nor any officer or employee of BioPortfolio, nor BT, or any officer or employee of BT, accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct, indirect, special or consequential damages or loss arising from any use of this report or their contents. This report may not be reproduced, distributed or published by any recipient for any purpose without the prior express consent of the publishers. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as conferring by implication, estoppel or otherwise any license or right under any patent, trademark or copyright of BioPortfolio, BT or any third party.  The value of the investment(s) to which this report relates and their income yield(s) may go up or down. The investment(s) referred to in this report may not be suitable for private investors: if you are in any doubt you should seek advice from your investment advisor. Changes in rates of currency exchange may have an adverse effect on the value, price or income of investments. Statements as to past performance of any investment are not a guide to future performance. The levels and bases of taxation can change, and if you are in doubt you should seek independent professional advice. In some cases it may be difficult for you to sell or realize your investment or to obtain reliable information about its value or the extent of the risks to which you are exposed.  THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED OF ACCURACY, MERCHANTIBILITY FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR OF ANY OTHER NATURE ARE MADE WITH RESPECT TO THIS INFORMATION OR TO ANY EXPRESSED VIEWS PRESENTED IN THIS INFORMATION.