Apitope Begins Preclinical Study Of Graves' Disease Drug

Apitope announced that it has begun preclinical development and trial of its peptide therapy ATX-GD-459 for the treatment of Graves' disease. Apitope is a drug discovery and development pharmaceutical company specializing in disease-modifying treatments for autoimmune and allergic diseases.

The company has chosen three peptides in ATX-GD-459 as potential treatment and prevention of the root cause of Graves’ disease, which is production of the stimulating antibodies against thyroid stimulating hormone receptor.

Prof. David Wraith, CSO and founder of Apitope, said, “Bringing this latest product through into preclinical development is another important milestone event for Apitope and provides further evidence that our discovery platform can generate new potentially life changing therapies for development and validates further the scientific basis of our approach.”

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects more than 7.5 million people around the world. Afflicted patients often develop goiter, muscle weakness, disturbed sleep, and irritability, as well as other serious medical concerns. Around 30 to 50 percent of patients with Graves’ disease develop orbitopathy characterized by bulging eyes or proptosis, while 3 to 5 percent of these experience a sight threatening form of Graves’ orbitopathy.

The disease is linked to the thyroid gland and its overproduction of thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). This is caused by auto-reactive T and B lymphocytes that attack the primary auto-antigen TSHR. Activation of these thyroid cells through the auto-antibodies are at the root of hyperthyroidism and other symptoms seen in Graves’ disease.

Dr. Keith Martin, CEO of Apitope, said, “Apitope is developing innovative products based on therapeutic peptides to treat a range of life-threatening autoimmune and allergic diseases, including rare conditions. We are delighted to progress the development of these innovative peptides which have the potential to help Graves' disease patients.”

The company also announced the recent awarding of its commercial director and general counsel Dr. Hayley French. French received the Licensing Executives Society (LESI) President's International Service Recognition award at the LESI annual conference held last month in Moscow