According to the company, oral administration of RDEA119 was shown to significantly reduce damage to colonic tissue and disease activity in dextran sulfate sodium – induced chronic colitic mice. The beneficial effect of RDEA119 exceeded that of Remicade (infliximab), the current standard-of-care for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
The company plans to initiate a Phase Ib clinical trial of RDEA119 in gouty arthritis later this year. In addition, RDEA119 is being evaluated in a Phase I trial in patients with advanced cancer, and will be also be evaluated in a Phase I/II clinical trial in the fourth quarter of 2008 in combination with Nexavar (sorafenib) in advanced cancer patients.
The company also plans to initiate a Phase I trial of RDEA436, its second-generation mitogen-activated ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitor, in healthy volunteers, in the fourth quarter of 2008.
Barry Quart, president and CEO of Ardea Biosciences, said: “We are making excellent progress with our programs addressing inflammatory disease and the data presented today demonstrate the potential of our MEK inhibitors, RDEA119 and our second generation MEK inhibitor, RDEA436, as treatments for these diseases, and support our continued efforts in this area.”