COLLABORATION WITH ZYDUS CADILA EXPIRES – KARO BIO CONTINUES TO DEVELOP SAFER GLUCOCORTICOIDS
STOCKHOLM, 2 April 2012 – Karo Bio AB (publ) and the Indian pharmaceutical company Zydus Cadila have decided not to further extend their joint glucocorticoid receptor research and development program. Karo Bio focuses its continued development towards a previously not described mechanism of glucocorticoid regulation.
In early 2008, Karo Bio and Zydus Cadila initiated a collaboration to discover and develop novel, selective glucocorticoids for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The collaboration has generated novel anti-inflammatory compounds with high affinity to the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Studies demonstrate that these compounds are as potent as conventional steroids in animal models of inflammation, but with a significantly lower probability to cause adverse effects. For the further development, several lines can be pursued and since the companies preferred different directions, they will not enter into a second extension period of joint research and development.
“We thank our partner for this collaboration and the important advances we made together in targeting GR. The development of safer glucocorticoids is a highly attractive opportunity for Karo Bio and we have decided to favor a line of continued development, independent from the one pursued in collaboration with Zydus Cadila,” says Per Bengtsson, CEO of Karo Bio.
Karo Bio scientists have discovered a previously undescribed mechanism of glucocorticoid regulation. Karo Bio’s continued program is based on this discovery and it is expected that such compounds will have a significantly improved side effect profile compared to conventional steroidal therapy while maintaining the desired anti-inflammatory effect.
For further information, please contact:
CEO Per Bengtsson: cell: +46 734 474 128 or by e-mail: per.bengtsson@karobio.se
About Karo Bio
Karo Bio is a pharmaceutical company focused on the research and development of innovative drugs for large medical needs. The company runs a number of drug development projects within the indication areas neuropsychiatry, inflammation, autoimmune diseases, cancer and women’s health. An important foundation for the company’s activities is its unique knowledge of nuclear receptors as target proteins for the development of novel pharmaceuticals, as well as related mechanisms of action. Karo Bio is based in Huddinge, Sweden, has around 52 employees and is listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm since 1998 (Reuters:KARO.ST).
Karo Bio publishes this information in accordance with the Swedish Securities Markets Act and/or the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act. The information was published on April 2, 2012, at 08:30 am CET.
This press release is also available online at www.karobio.com and www.newsroom.cision.com.
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