As a result, VGX Pharmaceuticals and VGX International, a Korean affiliate that is jointly developing VGX-1027, have initiated a multiple ascending dose study.
VGX-1027 is an orally active, small molecule compound that has shown preclinical efficacy against various inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Type 1 diabetes (T1D).
VGX-1027 is the first of a new class of immune modulators that inhibits the production of several pro-inflammatory cytokines responsible for the damaging effects of inflammatory diseases, the company said. Preclinical studies have shown that VGX-1027 is effective in inhibiting these cytokines in cell cultures. They have also demonstrated the product’s efficacy in animal models for several diseases including RA, T1D, colitis, and uveitis, the company added.
Joseph Kim, president and CEO of VGX Pharmaceuticals, said: “VGX looks forward to the results of the multiple ascending dose studies for VGX-1027. Successful completion of the multiple ascending dose studies would allow initiation of two Phase II studies: one for RA patients, to be conducted by VGX Pharmaceuticals, and one for T1D patients, to be conducted by VGX International.”