HIPK2

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rila Therapeutics, Inc., A biotechnology company focused on addressing the burden of chronic fibrotic diseases, today announced that the first cohort of subjects was dosed in a phase 1 trial of RLA-23174 in China in collaboration with our development partner, Yingli Pharmaceutical. RLA-23174 is a first-in-class small molecule allosteric inhibitor of HIPK2 which inhibits TGF-β signaling to address FSGS and other fibrotic diseases. The phase 1 placebo-controlled study for RLA-23174 is designed to assess its safety at multiple dose levels, tolerability, food effect, and pharmacokinetics. The single-center trial is enrolling healthy subjects and consists of staggered single ascending dose and multiple ascending dose cohorts. The trial will enroll up to 80 patients with expected completion by the end of 3Q2024 to support advancement into the Phase 2 clinical program. About RLA-23174 RLA-23174 is a new small molecule allosteric inhibitor of HIPK2 and a potential first-in-class treatment for pan-organ fibrosis. RLA-23174 inhibits the TGF-β/Smad3 signaling pathway by affecting the interaction between HIPK2 and Smad3, without inhibiting the kinase activity of HIPK2 or TGF-β receptor systems. Therefore, RLA-23174 exerts anti-fibrotic effects by reducing TGF-β signaling without serious adverse effects caused by complete HIPK2 or TGF-β signaling blockade. Preclinical studies have shown that RLA-23174 has superior anti-fibrotic effects, significant in vivo activity, excellent pharmacokinetic properties in animals, and a good safety profile. RLA-23174 demonstrates good druggability and excellent development potential. "Dosing of the first cohort in this first human study with RLA-23174 is a meaningful milestone for Rila Therapeutics. It signifies our evolution into a clinical development company bringing us closer to helping patients with kidney disease," stated Robert Drakas, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Rila Therapeutics. "Regardless of several newly approved therapies for chronic kidney disease (CKD), many patients still progress to kidney failure, requiring dialysis or transplantation. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop more effective drugs to halt disease progression, and we strongly believe that anti-fibrosis drug is one of the most promising drugs for such therapy. We are hopeful that HIPK2 inhibitor molecules/RLA-23174 could provide additional renal protection in conjunction with the current therapies for CKD. The Initiation of the phase 1 clinical trial of RLA-23174 is an important milestone for Rila. RLA-23174 exemplifies Rila's commitment to discovering and developing novel precision medicines for severe chronic kidney diseases," said founder John He, MD, PhD, Chief of Nephrology at Icahn Mount Sinai and key opinion leader at one of the largest medical centers in the US. About Rila Therapeutics Rila Therapeutics is focused on developing first-in-class medicines to treat fibrotic diseases. Rila was founded on exploring novel areas of biology focused on stopping fibrosis progression. Rila's programs target key molecular pathways whose dysfunction are hallmarks of renal fibrosis. Rila is building its pipeline by leveraging insights into the dynamic process of fibrosis progression to discover and develop therapeutics with differentiating mechanisms of action against fibrotic pathways. For more information, please visit SOURCE Rila Therapeutics

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Odyssey Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company pioneering next-generation precision immunomodulators and oncology medicines, will present data highlighting three of its immunology programs at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence 2023 meeting in San Diego, California, November 10-15, 2023. Odyssey’s oral and poster presentations will unveil the first public data for three novel therapeutic approaches to treat large populations with underserved inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The receptor interacting protein kinase 2 (RIPK2) and interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4) scaffolding inhibitors, as well as tumor necrosis factor receptor-2 (TNFR2) agonist for regulatory T (Treg) cell modulation, represent targets and approaches of high interest in the pharmaceutical industry, given their broad potential to treat inflammatory disease. “Odyssey’s team of expert drug hunters are tirelessly working to pioneer groundbreaking therapeutic strategies for the management of autoimmune disease,” said Gary D. Glick, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Odyssey Therapeutics. “At ACR, we’ll give patients, researchers and investors the first look at our RIPK2 and IRAK4 scaffolding inhibitors, as well as TNFR2 agonist for Treg cell modulation. These therapies can offer transformative benefits for patients, and the findings shared at ACR reflect significant scientific progress and achievement by our team to understand and solve complex biology with small molecule and protein therapeutics.” Oral Presentation Title: Discovery of First-in-Class IRAK4 Scaffolding Inhibitors for the Treatment of Inflammatory Disorders Abstract number: 2505 Session type: Abstract Session Date and time: Tuesday, November 14, from 4-5:30 p.m. PST Poster Presentations Title: Discovery of a RIPK2 Scaffolding Inhibitor for the Treatment of Joint Autoimmune Diseases Abstract number: 0061 Session type: Poster Session A Date and time: Sunday, November 12, from 9-11 a.m. PST Title: Anti-TNFR2 VHH Agonistic Antibodies Promote and Stabilize Treg Immunosuppressive Activity Abstract number: 0068 Session type: Poster Session A Date and time: Sunday, November 12, from 9-11 a.m. PST About Odyssey Therapeutics Odyssey Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing the next generation of immunomodulators and oncology medicines. Composed of an expert team of drug hunters, scientists and industry leaders in foundational biology, chemistry and data sciences, Odyssey is transforming drug discovery to accelerate and drive the creation and efficient delivery of life-enhancing precision medicines to patients. For more information, please visit odysseytx.com and follow Odyssey Therapeutics on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rila Therapeutics, a biotherapeutics company focused on addressing the critical unmet medical needs to treat renal fibrosis, today announced its emergence out of stealth mode. Rila Therapeutics has identified a promising, first-in-class allosteric small molecule targeting HIPK2 to inhibit kidney fibrosis. This breakthrough discovery aiming to advance the treatment of renal disease was developed in collaboration with Mount Sinai Innovation Partners and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Icahn Mount Sinai), New York, NY. The company was founded by John He, MD, PhD, Chief of Nephrology at Icahn Mount Sinai and key opinion leader at one of the largest medical centers in the US, and ShangPharma Innovation. Dr. He, in addition to his position at Icahn Mount Sinai, is a professor of medicine and pharmacological sciences whose academic work has shed light on multiple features of kidney disease pathogenesis, leading to the elucidation of complex signaling networks in kidney cells by using systems biology approach and transgenic mouse models, and revealing the novel mechanisms of kidney fibrosis. He is also a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation, American Association of Physicians, and former President of the Chinese American Society of Nephrology. "Currently, there are about 750,000 patients in the US suffering from renal fibrosis with no cure as there are no approved antifibrotic treatments targeting the kidney. Our goal is to drastically improve the lives of patients by increasing survival rates and decreasing the high costs of dialysis. I am excited for the potential of Rila to provide a safe and effective anti-fibrotic treatment," said Dr. He. The founding team also includes Kyung Lee, PhD, Associate Professor at Icahn Mount Sinai and NIH-funded principal investigator with over 12 years of research experience in nephrology; Robert Drakas, PhD, interim CEO of Rila Therapeutics and President of ShangPharma Innovation with 25+ years of pharmaceutical industry experience, and Michael Hui, Chairman of Rila Therapeutics, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Pandect Bioventures, and Chairman and CEO of ShangPharma Holdings. "I am thrilled Rila Therapeutics will be moving forward with IND enabling studies as this therapy is a novel first-in-class treatment for renal fibrosis," said Dr. Bob Drakas, CEO of Rila Therapeutics and President of ShangPharma Innovation. "We have a fantastic team of industry tenured innovators working to address the burden of chronic fibrotic disease for patients." Rila Therapeutics has secured patents to all background IP and composition of matter and will enter IND enabling studies in November 2022 with plans to submit IND to the FDA mid-year 2023. The small molecule targeting HIPK2 is based on technology developed by Mount Sinai faculty and licensed to Rila Therapeutics. Mount Sinai and Mount Sinai faculty, including Dr. He and Kyung (Kim) Lee have a financial interest in Rila Therapeutics. Mount Sinai also has representation on the Rila Therapeutics Board of Directors. About the Mount Sinai Health System The Mount Sinai Health System is one of the largest academic medical systems in the New York metro area, with more than 43,000 employees working across eight hospitals, over 400 outpatient practices, nearly 300 labs, a school of nursing, and a leading school of medicine and graduate education. Mount Sinai advances health for all people, everywhere, by taking on the most complex health care challenges of our time — discovering and applying new scientific learning and knowledge; developing safer, more effective treatments; educating the next generation of medical leaders and innovators; and supporting local communities by delivering high-quality care to all who need it. Through the integration of its hospitals, labs, and schools, Mount Sinai offers comprehensive health care solutions from birth through geriatrics, leveraging innovative approaches such as artificial intelligence and informatics while keeping patients' medical and emotional needs at the center of all treatment. About Rila Therapeutics Rila Therapeutics is a biotherapeutics company focused on addressing the critical unmet medical needs to treat renal fibrosis, founded between John He, MD, PhD Chief of Nephrology Mount Sinai Health System, Kyung Lee, PhD, Associate Professor at Icahn Mount Sinai, and ShangPharma Innovation with patents licensed through Mount Sinai Health System. Rila Therapeutics mission is to improve the lives of patients suffering from renal fibrosis by providing a safe and effective anti-fibrotic therapy. About ShangPharma Innovation Through strategic investments and partnerships, ShangPharma Innovation is focused on filling the critical investment gap that exists for earliest-stage therapeutic breakthroughs. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, ShangPharma Innovation's experienced team of investors and scientists brings knowledge of diverse therapeutic areas, leverages multidimensional relationships across the spectrum of biotech and pharma to identify promising healthcare discoveries and work side-by-side with scientific innovators to rapidly advance ideas through key value-inflection points. ShangPharma Innovation embraces a founder-centric approach that ensures entrepreneurs can remain actively involved in shaping their company's successes, all with the proactive and trusted support of our wide network of experts. SOURCE Rila Therapeutics