Xention And Servier Partner For Phase 2 Development of Atrial Fibrillation Treatment
By Lori Clapper
Xention, a Cambridge-based biopharmaceutical company, announced Monday that it has initiated the Phase 2 development of its lead atrial fibrillation (AF) program XEN-D0103.
Xention entered into a collaboration agreement with Servier last year to develop and commercialize XEN-D0103, which is the company’s potent and selective oral modulator of the cardiac potassium channel Kv1.5, a potential new treatment of AF. This joint effort includes clinical development for XEN-D0103, as well as two Phase 2 clinical studies targeted to prove the efficacy of the compound in AF.
The companies’ first Phase 2 studies (the 'XAPAF' study) will take place at the UK’s Eastbourne General Hospital. It will be a double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled study that will evaluate the efficacy and safety of XEN-D0103 in 20 patients who have paroxysmal AF who also have implanted pacemakers, enabling continuous beat-to-beat monitoring of drug efficacy.
Tim Brears, CEO of Xention said, "We are delighted to report that our partnership with Servier is progressing extremely well and that XEN-D0103 is being evaluated in the first of two planned studies in AF."
Xention is also developing a second target for AF: antagonists of Kir3.1/3.4 (IKACh). “Both Kv1.5 and Kir3.1/3.4 (IKACh) are expressed only in the atria and represent exciting targets for the development of atrial-selective therapeutics for the treatment of AF,” according to Xention’s press release. Dr. Neil Sulke, lead investigator for the study, said “this is the first time a highly selective Kv1.5 blocker is being assessed in patients with AF.”
Dr Isabelle Tupinon-Mathieu, VP of Research and Development and Head of Cardiovascular and Metabolism Therapeutic Innovation Departments at Servier, added that Servier was pleased that the second study 'DIAGRAF-IKur' is nearing regulatory approval and should be starting in the near future.
Under the terms of the agreement, Xention will retain U.S. and Japanese rights to XEN-D0103, and Servier will have commercialization rights throughout the rest of the world.