EntreMed drug shows benefit in arthritis

Results from treatment studies in a preclinical model of rheumatoid arthritis demonstrated that daily oral administration of 2ME2 reduced clinical severity of joint inflammation and inhibited articular joint damage. Tissue analyses on the articular joints from 2ME2 treated animals revealed the inhibition of angiogenesis. In addition, there was suppression in the gene expression of VEGF and FGF-2, two prominent angiogenic growth factors. These results identify 2ME2 as a disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug, which is partly attributed to its antiangiogenic activity.

“These results continue to demonstrate the positive impact of 2ME2 on reducing inflammation, angiogenesis, and associated disease progression in preclinical models. Furthermore, the studies continue to indicate that 2ME2 may represent a novel agent for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis,” said Dr Ernest Brahn, rheumatology program director, Division of Rheumatology, University of California.

“IND-enabling studies are well underway and we remain on track to initiate a clinical evaluation of 2ME2 in this debilitating disease,” said Carolyn Sidor, vice president and chief medical officer at EntreMed.