Triolex, a novel orally bio-available anti-inflammatory cleared by the FDA for a Phase I/II clinical trial in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), has also demonstrated benefit to date in animal models of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis and ulcerative colitis without immune suppressive side effects.
The new data are from studies performed at The University of California, San Diego showing that treatment with Triolex significantly reduced disease in the murine model of collagen antibody induced arthritis (CAIA) in a dose-dependent fashion, with the highest dose completely eliminating disease.
In the CAIA model, disease is induced by injecting animals with arthrogenic antibodies, a method that largely bypasses the animal’s own cellular immune system. Severe joint inflammation occurs within hours after the injection of antibodies.
Triolex was highly effective in this model whether treatment began one day or five days after injection with antibodies. Benefit at the peak of disease was associated with a significant reduction of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) messenger RNA from the joints of Triolex-treated animals when compared to placebo-treated controls.
IL-6 and MMP-3 are thought to be among the most important drivers of disease and tissue destruction in human RA. Methotrexate, the current standard of care in RA, is far less effective in the CAIA model than in models of collagen induced arthritis, where disease is driven by the animal’s own cellular immune system.