Company’s lead inhibitor is progressing through Phase II trials in asthma, COPD, and psoriasis.
Revotar Biopharmaceuticals received a €2.5 million (about $3.65 million) grant from the German Federal State of Brandenburg to support development of its selectin antagonist pipeline in respiratory indications.
The company’s lead pan-selectin inhibitor candidate, bimosiamose, has already undergone Phase IIa trials in asthma, COPD, and psoriasis. An additional Phase IIa trial in COPD is due to start in 2010.
Selectins are a family of three, structurally similar carbohydrate-binding cell-adhesion molecules (E-, P-, L-selectin), which play a key inflammatory role by increasing the adhesion of different leukocytes from the bloodstream to the surface of the blood vessels surrounding the area of inflammation. Revotar claims Bimosiamose is capable of antagonizing all three selectins, so blocking extravasation of leukocytes from the circulation into inflamed surrounding tissue.
