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Algernon Pharmaceuticals (CSE:AGN) reports positive findings in lead chronic kidney disease drug, Repirinast

Health Care
CSE:AGN
26 April 2022 13:00 (EDT)

Source: Algernon Pharmaceuticals.

Algernon Pharmaceuticals (AGN) chronic kidney disease drug NP-251, reduced fibrosis by 56 per cent in a preclinical study.

The study investigated non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in the STAM™ mouse model from SMC Laboratories (Japan).

Repirinast was one of the multiple drugs that Algernon screened in a NASH preclinical animal study where liver tissue samples from the Repirinast treatment group underwent a pathology review.

When compared to the negative control group, the tissue analysis showed Repirinast (60mg/kg QD) reduced fibrosis by 56 per cent.

It was previously reported that Repirinast (30 mg/kg, TID) also reduced fibrosis by 51 per cent vs. untreated controls in its preclinical animal study of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. In the same study, Ifenprodil (4 mg/kg, TID) showed a 56 per cent reduction in fibrosis vs. untreated controls.

Fibrosis is a major cause of death globally and causes substantial medical and economic burdens.

“When you include the CKD data, Repirinast has shown in three separate preclinical studies, that it has reduced fibrosis in three major fibrotic diseases involving three separate major human organs, all with statistical significance,” said Christopher J. Moreau, CEO of Algernon.

“This data suggests that Repirinast has the potential to be an anti-fibrotic compound in multiple indications and so we look forward to advancing it into the planned Phase 1 study, added Moreau.

Repirinast was developed by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma and was sold and marketed in Japan under the brand name Romet™ for the treatment of asthma.

Romet™ was marketed for over 25 years in Japan and has a well-established safety history. The drug acts on mast cells and inhibits the release of chemical mediators by IgE-related antigen-antibody interactions.

Algernon is a drug re-purposing company that investigates safe, already approved drugs, including naturally occurring compounds, for new disease applications, moving them efficiently and safely into new human trials, developing new formulations and seeking new regulatory approvals in global markets.

Algernon specifically investigates compounds that have never been approved in the U.S. or Europe to avoid off-label prescription writing.

Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AGN) is down 8.08 per cent, trading at C$5.23 at 11.39 am ET.

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