The Food and Drug Administration granted Orphan Drug Designation to Inhibikase Therapeutics’, Inc. lead product, IkT-001Pro (imatinib), to treat progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy(PML). According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, PML affects the white matter of the brain usually through a virus known as Polyomavirus JC (JC virus). If left untreated, JC virus can destroy motor neurons and cognitive ability, eventually leading to death.Multiple sclerosis patients are particularly prone to PML due to their lowered immunity from their disease and use of certain drugs.
“Multiple sclerosis can be a very disabling disease. To date, Tysabri® is our most effective treatment,” explained Dr. Jeffrey B. English, Director of Clinical Research at the MS Center of Atlanta, in a news release. “Unfortunately, it carries a risk of a life threatening brain infection that can lead to PML. There are ways to screen for PML early, but we have no effective treatments for this disease.”
To address this need, Inhibikase has been researching and developing imatinib for delivery to patients with PML. Imatinib is a host-directed protein kinase inhibitor that interferes with JC virus replication. It has also been implicated in Novartis AG’s anti-cancer drug Gleevec® to treat blood and stomach cancers. To safely deliver imatinib to PML patients by reducing the required dose and side effects, Inhibikase formulated imatinib using its proprietary technology to make IkT-001Pro. “The anti-JC virus activity of imatinib cannot be achieved by simply altering the frequency or amount of Gleevec given to patients,” said Milton H. Werner, PhD, President and CEO of Inhibikase. “Early trial work has already shown this. To succeed, we’re talking re-engineering how imatinib is absorbed and distributed in the body.” click to continue reading
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