P2X7 Antagonist Program
- Multiple large potential indications
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pain (COPD)
- Best-in-class opportunity
Clinical Candidate Identified
Evotec has a late-stage preclinical program to identify and develop antagonists of the purinergic receptor, P2X7. This is a promising molecular target for potential new therapies in the area of inflammation, including diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) - both of which represent large markets with urgent needs for safe and effective small molecule therapies.
The P2X7 receptor is a member of a family of ligand-gated ion channels found primarily in cells of the immune systems where it is thought to play a role in inflammatory processes. As it has been shown to initiate the processing and release of the IL-1 family of cytokines it is believed to play a critical role in the inflammation that underlies diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome and even respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pain.
The goal for this program is the design of best-in-class P2X7 receptor antagonists that are distinguished by their potency, selectivity, pharmacokinetic properties and safety profiles. To date, Evotec have identified and validated novel, orally bioavailable, potent, selective P2X7 antagonists from multiple proprietary chemical series. A candidate has been selected for entry into the clinic and is currently in Phase I.
