--part0_884725768_boundary
Content-ID: <0_884725768(AT)inet_out.mail.aol.com.1>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
For those interested, this is a study being done for a new Rx for autoimmune
disorders, which T/M is one.
Bob from Houston
--part0_884725768_boundary
Content-ID: <0_884725768(AT)inet_out.mail.aol.com.2>
Content-type: message/rfc822
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit
Content-disposition: inline
From: AOL News <AOLNews(AT)aol.com>
Return-path: <AOLNews(AT)aol.com>
Subject: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Announces Start of Clinical Trial...
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 08:47:28 EST
Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com)
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Announces Start of Clinical Trial with VX-497, a Novel Compound for Autoimmune Diseases CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) announced today the initiation of a Phase I clinical trial with VX-497, a novel, orally administered inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) inhibitor designed by Vertex for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. The study, which began in December 1997, is the first in a clinical development program for VX-497 being planned by Vertex. The Phase I clinical trial is designed to test the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of VX-497 in escalating single doses. As many as 50 healthy subjects will participate in the study, which is being conducted in the United Kingdom. "The entry of VX-497 into the clinic is an important milestone in the IMPDH program," commented Dr. Vicki L. Sato, Senior Vice President of Research and Development and Chief Scientific Officer of Vertex. "Vertex selected VX- 497 as a lead candidate based on its performance in a number of disease models and laboratory tests. We believe that its potential for broad applicability in a range of autoimmune diseases represents significant market opportunity." The Company plans to follow the current Phase I clinical trial with multidose safety studies. Data from Phase I studies will be used by Vertex to design dose-ranging trials to assess the safety and efficacy of VX-497 for the treatment of psoriasis, an autoimmune disease of the skin, slated for the second half of 1998. Based on its mechanism of action, VX-497 has possible application in the treatment of asthma, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and organ transplant rejection. IMPDH is an enzyme involved in the immune response that enables lymphocyte proliferation and recruitment by catalyzing a key step in one of two DNA nucleotide biosynthesis pathways. IMPDH inhibition appears to selectively suppress immune system cells while leaving other cells unaffected, and may play an important role in downregulating inappropriate immune responses common to a range of human diseases. Researchers from Vertex began investigating IMPDH as a drug target in 1994, using cluster-based screening to sort families of compounds as potential inhibitors. Solving the three-dimensional atomic structure of IMPDH in 1996, as reported by Vertex researchers in the journal Cell, paved the way for rapid optimization of promising compounds, and ultimately the selection of VX-497 as a lead candidate in 1996. VX-497 has displayed potent immunosuppressive activity in animal models of rheumatoid arthritis and organ transplant rejection. "Maintaining a broad and balanced stable of drug candidates and research programs is a key strength of Vertex's business strategy," added Joshua Boger, Chairman, President and CEO of Vertex. "VX-497 has progressed rapidly, highlighting the intrinsic strength of our integrated discovery approach and our commitment to managing an innovative, dynamic pipeline." VX-497 becomes the fourth Vertex compound in clinical development, joining amprenavir (VX-478/141W94), a protease inhibitor in Phase III trials for the treatment of HIV; Incel(TM) (VX-710; biricodar dicitrate), in Phase II trials for reversal of multidrug resistance in cancer; and VX-853 (timcodar dimesylate), an oral compound now in Phase I/II studies, also for cancer multidrug resistance. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated is engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel, small molecule pharmaceuticals for the treatment of diseases for which there are currently limited or no effective treatments. The Company is a leader in the use of structure-based drug design, an approach to drug discovery that integrates advanced biology, biophysics and chemistry. The Company is concentrating on the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of viral diseases, multidrug resistance in cancer, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. There can be no assurance that clinical trials will continue, that initial clinical trial results will be predictive of any future results, that drugs under development by the Company will receive marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or other authorities, or that drugs, if any, which receive such approval will be marketed successfully. Investors are also directed to consider other risks and uncertainties discussed in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. SOURCE Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated CO: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated ST: Massachusetts IN: MTC SU: 01/13/98 08:29 EST http://www.prnewswire.com To edit your profile, go to keyword NewsProfiles. For all of today's news, go to keyword News.--part0_884725768_boundary--