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news.ChemoCentryx has initiated a phase I clinical trial of CCX168, an orally-administered small molecule designed to treat autoimmune diseases. CCX168 is a highly potent and very selective compound that specifically targets the C5a receptor (C5aR). The initiation of the trial triggered a $10m milestone payment from GSK.
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C5a receptor is a component of the body’s complement system and a potent driver of the inflammatory response associated with autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, certain types of vasculitis, age-related macular degeneration and rheumatoid arthritis.
Thomas Schall, president and CEO of ChemoCentryx, said: “CCX168 marks the fifth product candidate that we have generated from our drug discovery platform and successfully taken into clinical development. Furthermore, we have demonstrated the ability to develop a compound targeting C5aR, which has up to now proved to be an enormous challenge for the pharmaceutical industry.
“As a result, we bring to clinical development a C5aR antagonist unlike any other compound that has been developed to date. We are very excited over the promise that this novel drug candidate may hold for the future treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.”