Adeona Pharmaceuticals, a developer of medications for CNS and autoimmune diseases, announced data from a Phase II clinical trial of its rheumatoid arthritis drug candidate. The study found that oral dnaJP1 used in conjunction with the commercially approved RA medication hydroxychloroquine was more effective than the combination of hydroxychloroquine and placebo. Patients who took dnaJP1 showed 20 percent improvement at least once on day 112, 140, or 168. There was a significant reduction in the number of T-cells producing the cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), a compound known to promote inflammation. Oral dnaJP1 was found to be safe and well tolerated by patients who participated in the multi-center study. The experimental drug is derived from a group of proteins that contribute to autoimmune inflammation in RA patients.
Shares in the Ann Arbor-based company rose 17 percent following the announcement. Adeona is seeking domestic and international partners to aid in the development and commercialization of oral dnaJP1. The company is also developing therapies for conditions including dry age-related macular degeneration, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis.
Last month, OneMedPlace reported on a number of companies that are developing treatments for RA, an autoimmune disorder that is the leading cause of disability in the United States. UCB Pharma, Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Arana Therapeutics, Jerini, and ChemoCentryx.