These compounds selectively activate the repair and regenerative effects of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) without stimulating bone growth. This key differentiating factor offers significant potential for treating a broad range of life-threatening diseases and conditions, including acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), the initial focus areas of the company, said Thrasos.
The patent is the first in a family of patent applications filed by Thrasos that cover this set of compounds that are able to bind to select receptors of BMP, activating its distinct cell-, tissue-, and organ-protection, repair and regeneration functions.
Richard Andrews, president and CEO of Thrasos, said: “Thrasos has achieved a potentially field-changing breakthrough, generating a pipeline of first-in-class compounds that deliver anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects without stimulating bone formation. Not only do these compounds have the ability to provide important clinical benefits, but they are also critical tools that will facilitate a more complete understanding of the BMP pathway and its receptors.
“We believe that our initial focus on kidney injury and disease allows us to target large markets that are currently not optimally addressed. We look forward to moving our lead AKI candidate into clinical testing within the next 12 months while pursuing partners for our CKD program and additional promising indications.”