VP025 is being developed to target the chronic inflammation within the central nervous system that is associated with a number of neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease).
The double-blind, placebo-controlled phase I clinical trial will examine safety and tolerability of various doses of VP025 in up to 24 healthy volunteers. The trial is expected to be completed during the second quarter and, subject to successful outcomes, is expected to form the basis of an application to commence phase II clinical development in patients with neuro-inflammatory disorders.
In preclinical models, VP025 has been shown to improve biological correlates of memory function, reduce the established neural deficit associated with aging and prevent detrimental effects of beta-amyloid, a major component of the plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients.
VP025 has also been shown experimentally to delay disease onset and prolong survival in a model of Lou Gehrig’s disease, reduce movement abnormalities in a model of Parkinson’s disease and reduce the level of activation of microglial cells.
“The initiation of patient enrollment into our phase I trial of VP025 is a significant milestone for Vasogen, as it adds an exciting new product candidate to our clinical development pipeline,” commented David Elsley, president and CEO of Vasogen.