A1M Pharma selects kidney protection in connection with cancer treatment as their first indication within acute kidney injury
A1M Pharma – who develops and commercializes medical applications based on the endogenous protein A1M – has selected kidney protection in connection with radiation therapy for cancer (PRRT) as the first indication for their work within acute kidney injury (AKI). The aim is to be able to increase the radiation dose in order to fight the cancer more effectively.
PRRT (Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy) is a form of molecular targeted therapy which is used as treatment for cancer, commonly neuroendocrine tumours spreading quickly in the body in the gastrointestinal tract or the lungs in people suffering from the disease. A radioactive substance that targets the cancer cells is administered to the patient, binds to the tumour cells and kills them.
"Kidney protection in connection with PRRT treatment of malignant tumours is a cost-effective way forward within acute kidney injury, with breakthrough potential within a limited but important and highly vulnerable patient group. In addition, we see significant synergies both pre-clinically and in phase one with our prime indication preeclampsia. Based on this strategic choice, there are also promising opportunities for including additional radiation therapies with significantly greater market potential going forward. The selection of indication is also an important step in the process of identifying partners for the continued development of the project", says A1M Pharma's CEO Tomas Eriksson.
An unwanted side-effect of PRRT treatment is that the radioactive substance not only binds to the tumours but also ends up in the kidneys which inevitably mean that the patient is at high risk of suffering from serious kidney injuries. By treating the patient with A1M Pharma's candidate drug ROSGard™ (also known as RMC-035) simultaneously with the PRRT, the aim is to protect the kidneys which open up the possibility of increasing the radiation dose or the number of treatments in order to fight the cancer quicker and more effectively.
The selection of the PRRT indication is based on the knowledge of ROSGard™ and its mechanism of action together with the opportunity to improve the cancer care that this entails. In addition, there is potential to obtain prioritized status by the regulatory authorities in Europe and the US.
A1M Pharma is currently seeking partnerships for the continued development work. The company's budget and operating costs are not affected by the selection of the PRRT indication. The ongoing collaboration with Phenos GmbH in Germany – within acute kidney injury – continues.
A1M Pharma’s work on its prime indication preeclampsia is not affected by the selection of first indication for the treatment of acute kidney injury.
For more information, please contact
Tomas Eriksson, CEO
Telephone: +46 46-286 50 30
Email: te@a1m.se
About A1M Pharma
A1M Pharma develops a diagnostic method and treatment for pre-eclampsia, a condition that affects around 10 million pregnant women worldwide each year. This disorder is responsible for 76,000 maternal and 500,000 infant deaths each year and it is the cause of 15 % of all premature births. Currently, there is no effective diagnostic method or curative treatment for impaired kidney function associated with pre-eclampsia. The only option is therefore to terminate pregnancy by inducing delivery which leads to premature infants and substantial health care costs. Several studies indicate that A1M Pharma’s candidate drug, ROSGard™, based on the protein A1M (alpha-1-microglobulin), restores the impaired kidney function by repairing damaged tissue and protect against oxidative stress. New findings indicate that the cells within the heart are protected in a similar way. Apart from the connection with pre-eclampsia, kidney injury is a condition often accompanying major surgery and transplantation and the company is therefore also developing a treatment for the closely related indication acute kidney injury. Acute kidney injury that can lead to permanent kidney damage affects 12 million people every year.
This information is information that A1M Pharma AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. This information was submitted for publication through the agency of the contact persons set out above on 13 September 2016, at 8:50 a.m CET