Via Pharmaceuticals reports encouraging results from Phase II ACS trial

Via Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company, has reported encouraging results of a sub-study of patients in its acute coronary syndrome Phase II trial who received serial 64 slice multidetector computed tomography scans before and after six months of treatment with its lead drug, VIA-2291, an inhibitor of leukotrienes, proposed mediators of vascular inflammation.

Of 191 patients enrolled in the first 12 weeks of the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) trial, over 85 elected to continue in the study for an additional 12 weeks, receiving either placebo or VIA-2291 on top of current standard medical care.

Each of these patients received a multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scan at baseline and at 24 weeks. Evaluable scans from patients treated with placebo showed significantly more evidence of new plaque lesions at follow-up than VIA-2291 treated patients, the company said.

According to Via Pharmaceuticals, MDCT scans of patients with low density plaques demonstrated statistically significant, lower plaque volumes in combined Via treated groups compared to placebo. Together these results suggest that VIA-2291 may reduce the progression of unstable coronary plaques that lead to heart attacks and stroke.

This ACS sub-study is believed to be the first clinical trial to use MDCT imaging to assess the effects of a drug on coronary plaque in a large patient cohort.

Lawrence Cohen, CEO of Via, said: VIA-2291 continues to show a significant effect on vascular inflammation, and these data add to the weight of the evidence from our Phase II trial program. We have now combined histology, non-invasive imaging and biomarker data to demonstrate the impact of VIA-2291. This adds support to our clinical development efforts and gives us even greater confidence as we look to move into in a larger trial.