ChemoCentryx Initiates Clinical Trial of CCR1 Inhibi...( Drug Represents Potential New Appro...),Health

Drug Represents Potential New Approach for the Treatment of Inflammatory

Disease

Milestone Triggers $10 Million Payment from Partner GlaxoSmithKline

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- ChemoCentryx, Inc., today announced the initiation of a Phase I clinical trial of CCX354, an orally-available, novel small molecule compound designed to specifically target the CCR1 chemokine receptor which is associated with inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. With the dosing of the first patient in this trial, ChemoCentryx will be entitled to receive a $10 million milestone payment from alliance partner GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK).

The Phase I clinical trial is designed to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of CCX354 in healthy volunteers in single ascending dose and multiple ascending dose cohorts. Preclinical studies showed that the development candidate is a potent and selective antagonist of the CCR1 receptor without binding to other receptors, which might minimize off-target effects. The high potency and selectivity of the molecule is designed to provide a wider therapeutic window allowing continuous receptor coverage throughout the dosing regimen thought to be critical for efficacy.

The chemokine receptor CCR1 drives the recruitment of immune cells, such as monocytes and macrophages, associated with the inflammation underlying certain autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as well as other inflammatory diseases. Significant levels of CCR1 ligands, including a set of so-called "C6 super-activated ligands" (which are a result of enzymatic cleavage in the inflamed joints) have been shown to be present in synovial fluid from the joints
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