RUS 3108 is being developed for the treatment of atherosclerosis, the major cause of cardiovascular disorders such as heart attacks and stroke. There are currently no drugs on the market that directly treat atherosclerosis.
The first-in-class drug candidate represents a new approach to the treatment of atherosclerosis. It works through affecting multiple pathways involved in the disease such as inflammation, proliferation and thrombosis by inducing a protein called perlecan. Company scientists have determined that regulating the expression of perlecan can provide direct protection against atherosclerosis.
“RUS 3018 represents a unique approach for treatment of cardiovascular disease, a growing unmet medical need worldwide,” said Dr Uday Saxena, chief scientific officer of Dr. Reddy’s. “It represents the company’s commitment to finding new solutions through cutting edge research and development.”
This is the first time the company is testing a drug in Europe.