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news.Cancer and inflammatory disease specialist EntreMed has been granted a European patent covering the use of its lead clinical-stage compound, 2-methoxyestradiol, for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other non-oncology indications.
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The product, 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2), is currently in clinical trials for cancer and in preclinical development for rheumatoid arthritis. The company also recently gained a US patent covering compositions and methods involving antiangiogenic inhibitors of tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI).
Angiogenesis is an integral component of rheumatoid arthritis. Results from preclinical studies have been presented that support the potential for 2ME2 as a disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD).
Antiarthritic activities of 2ME2 were observed in both preventive and treatment studies. When 2ME2 was administered in the preventive setting, the onset of arthritis was delayed significantly. The beneficial effects of 2ME2 were dose-dependent and non-immunosuppressive.
James Burns, EntreMed president and CEO said: “We have increasing preclinical evidence that 2ME2 has both antitumor and antiinflammatory properties. As an antiangiogenic agent, 2ME2 may represent a novel, non-immunologic, oral-delivery DMARD approach to treating rheumatoid arthritis. We believe that we now have the potential to expand the clinical indications for 2ME2 into both oncology and rheumatoid arthritis.”
Mr Burns went on to add that he anticipated filing for an investigational new drug application in 2006 for 2ME2 in rheumatoid arthritis.