Cytopia Nominates JAK2 Clinical Candidate for Myeloproliferative...( Clinical study to co...),Health

Clinical study to commence late this year

MELBOURNE, Australia, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Cytopia Limited (ASX: CYT) has selected CYT387, a selective and potent JAK2 inhibitor, for formal preclinical development to treat myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs). This follows extensive laboratory experimentation and includes the recent demonstration of activity in an in-vivo model of myeloproliferative disease.

Myeloproliferative disorders are a group of diseases including myelofibrosis, polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) that affect over 150,000 patients in the USA and more than twice that worldwide. Over 95% of PV cases and over 50% of ET and primary and secondary myelofibrosis cases are believed to be caused by a mutation in the JAK2 kinase enzyme. This renders the kinase permanently active and leads to the overproduction of particular blood cells.

No specific treatments exist for these diseases and untreated progressive disease can lead to leukemia or myelofibrosis. CYT387 possesses an excellent selectivity profile against a large panel of kinases and other pharmacological targets. It also has excellent pharmacokinetics including oral bioavailability and in preclinical models has a promising safety profile.

CYT387 has also recently shown efficacy in a well-validated in-vivo model of myeloproliferative disorders in studies in the laboratory of physician- scientist Michael Deininger MD PhD at Oregon Health & Science University Cancer Institute, USA. Results showed a profound effects on abnormal blood counts and clinical symptoms of MPDs in mice that were dosed orally.

Dr Deininger said, "We are highly encouraged by Cytopia's compound in this model of myeloproliferative disease which clearly indicates significant improvement of symptoms and disease remission. The favorable data from this animal model augers well for activity of the compound in the clinic."

The compound will now be progres
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