CTS-1027 significantly reduced liver damage following oral administration in four different preclinical models of liver injury. CTS-1027 markedly reduced aminotransferase (ALT) activity and improved survival and liver histology in the TNFalpha/Gln model. CTS-1027 was equally effective dosed at the same time as the insult or post-insult in the LPS/Gln model. CTS-1027 significantly reduced ALT activity in the Fas and Con A models. Dosing was well below or equivalent to exposure levels previously tolerated in human clinical studies.
CTS-1027 is an oral, small molecule, matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor under development for chronic use to protect the liver from damage due to a variety of insults including virus infection, obesity, alcohol use and autoimmune diseases.
Alfred Spada, senior vice president for R&D, said: “CTS-1027 represents a potential new and exciting approach to treat patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and in the treatment of other liver diseases. Our initial goal for the development of CTS-1027 is to establish safety and efficacy in patients infected with HCV who have failed or can not tolerate standard of care. We plan to initiate a Phase II clinical trial within the next few months.”