Vienna, Austria, April 8, 2013 / B3C newswire / – S-TARget therapeutics (“S-TARget”), a biotechnology company developing vaccines that address the cause of severe allergic diseases, announced today that it has achieved in vivo proof of concept for its drug candidate SG100. SG100 is being developed for the prevention and therapy of severe allergic asthma caused by house dust mite (HDM) allergens.
In a study of SG100 in naïve rhesus monkeys, S-TARget has demonstrated that repeated injections of the candidate vaccine induced a Th1 cell mediated memory immune response against natural HDM allergens. A Th1 immune response is considered a “healthy” immune response to allergens. By contrast, a Th2-mediated immune response can lead to allergic diseases—which in the case of exposure to HDM allergens include severe and persistent asthma. The study has also shown that SG100 can be safely applied in a relevant animal model.
“We are excited about the data from this study as it shows that S-TARget’s technology platform is safe and efficacious in a highly relevant animal model”, commented Geert Mudde, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of S-TARget and Co-founder of the company.
Dr Mudde continued: “Based on this proof-of-concept study, we are currently initiating a follow-on study with SG100 in a clinically highly predictive non human primate animal model of house dust mite induced allergic asthma. The goal is to demonstrate the ability of SG100 to not only induce a Th1-mediated immune response, but to remodel existing ‘allergic’ Th2 cells into ‘healthy’ Th1 cells, thus triggering a normal immune response to future HDM exposure. SG100 is specifically designed for the human immune system (it will not work in rodents) to achieve exactly this remodeling of allergic Th2-cells. Such remodeling will provide a powerful therapeutic approach to directly address the causes of allergic diseases instead of just treating the symptoms”.
Follow-on study to reduce development risk; data expected in July
“The encouraging results achieved with SG100 are a major milestone for S-TARget”, commented Christof Langer, MBA, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of S-TARget. “We look forward to conducting the follow-on study of SG100 as it will be highly predictive of its subsequent development in the clinic. We believe that this approach will facilitate the clinical development. Moreover, it will significantly reduce the development risk of this program, making S-TARget an attractive target for future investors.” S-TARget expects the results of this study to be available in July 2013.
About S-TARget
S-TARget therapeutics develops human specific therapeutic vaccines to cure and prevent allergic diseases. S‑TARget‘s vaccines are based on a unique, proprietary technology platform that addresses the cause of the disease and not only the symptoms. They are directed against major, widespread allergic diseases that currently cannot be cured, including severe forms of allergy.
Lead candidate SG100 targets allergic asthma induced by house dust mites (HDM), the major cause of allergy in the Western world.
S-TARget therapeutics was founded in 2010 by two senior pharma professionals with extensive experience in pharmaceutical research and development and in the management of multinational and start-up companies.
The company is privately held. It is based in Vienna, Austria (Europe).
For an overview of SG100 and the underlying technology platform, please see our video on youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO_NPiZLiiw .
Company contact:
Christof Langer, CEO
S-TARget therapeutics GmbH
Mooslackengasse 17
1190 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43-664-5160032
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Media contact:
Frank Butschbacher
Investor Relations & Communications
Phone: +43-650-7844940
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