ChemoCentryx anti-inflammatory bowel drug enters phase II

Traficet-EN is a novel, orally bioavailable, anti-inflammatory agent that targets the chemokine receptor known as CCR9. The receptor is on gut-homing inflammatory cells that are responsible for the persistent inflammation underlying both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, where it controls the migration of these cells into diseased tissue.

This phase II clinical study has been designed to evaluate Traficet-EN’s safety and tolerability among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and to monitor certain indicators of clinical activity. The study will enroll 60 patients with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease and is being conducted in leading centers located in the US, UK and the Netherlands.

“The compound’s safety and pharmacokinetic profile, along with its novel mode of action, have attracted leading experts in gastroenterology to participate in our phase II study,” said said Dr Thomas Schall, president and CEO of ChemoCentryx. “By developing an oral compound with potentially fewer side effects than those seen with traditional IBD therapeutics, we hope to have a tremendous positive impact on patient care in IBD.”

In June 2004, ChemoCentryx completed single dose and multiple dose phase I studies of Traficet-EN in healthy volunteers to evaluate safety and pharmacokinetics. Results from these trials demonstrated the drug is well tolerated and appropriate for once-daily dosing.