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news.Switzerland-based ESBATech, a developer of antibody fragment therapeutics, has initiated the Phase I/IIa clinical development of its anti-TNF alpha antibody fragment ESBA105 in osteoarthritis.
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This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase I/IIa clinical study is designed to investigate the safety, tolerability and efficacy on pain with ESBA105 applied locally via intra-articular administration to patients with severely painful osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. The multicenter study is initiated at various sites across Switzerland.
Dominik Escher, CEO of ESBATech, said: “OA is being increasingly recognized as driven by episodes of local inflammation and thus, TNF alpha represents a highly promising target. TNF alpha is excessively generated in OA by chondrocytes, which are located within the cartilage. Thus, to achieve disease-modifying activity, it is expected that the drug needs to penetrate into the cartilage, which cannot be achieved by the currently marketed TNF inhibitors.
“With ESBA105, we observe a very efficient penetration into the cartilage. By that, inhibiting TNF alpha can address the major aspects of OA therapy: signs and symptoms and cartilage degeneration. If clinically successful, ESBA105 is uniquely positioned to fill the need to treat OA with a safe and effective local therapy.”