quatrx.com
QUATRX PHARMACEUTICALS INITIATES PHASE II STUDY
OF LEAD COMPOUND IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIASIS
QRX-101, a Novel Vitamin D Analogue, Targets Chronic Condition
Affecting More than 7 Million in U.S.
Ann Arbor, MI and Basking Ridge, NJ, January 22, 2003 – QuatRx Pharmaceuticals announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the Company’s novel vitamin D analogue, QRX-101. QuatRx is concurrently initiating a Phase II clinical study of a topical formulation of the compound in patients with mild-to-moderate psoriasis. This represents the initial indication for which the drug will be developed. QuatRx acquired the exclusive license to QRX-101 in 2002 from Deltanoid Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company located in Madison, WI. The compound was originally discovered by Dr. Hector DeLuca, chairman of the Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, co-founder of Deltanoid and one of the world’s leading experts on vitamin D.
“We are very excited to report such rapid progress with QRX-101,” said Robert L. Zerbe, M.D., chief executive officer and president of QuatRx. “We identified and selected QRX-101 as our lead compound for development only one year ago. Its swift advancement into clinical trials is a major milestone for our Company.”
Phase II Study Commences
The double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II study will examine different concentrations of QRX-101 ointment in psoriatic plaques. The 120-patient study is being conducted at nine clinical test centers across the United States. The objectives of this multi-center study are to determine efficacy trends with increasing concentrations of QRX-101, to assess the safety and tolerability of QRX-101 ointment compared with its vehicle, and to select one or two concentrations for further evaluation.
7 Million Americans Suffer with Psoriasis
QuatRx ’s novel vitamin D analogue technology platform is initially being developed topically for the treatment of psoriasis, a chronic condition affecting more than 7 million Americans. The National Psoriasis Foundation estimates that, in the U.S., 56 million work hours are lost each year by people who suffer from psoriasis. The total cost burden on the U.S. health care system resulting from this disease is believed to be in excess of $3 billion annually. The goal of QuatRx is to develop a new generation of topical therapy that is more effective and has a better side effect profile than currently available topical psoriasis medications. This therapy would be intended for the almost five million psoriasis patients who are classified as having mild to moderate disease and for whom existing therapeutic options are often considered inadequate.
About QuatRx
QuatRx Pharmaceuticals is a private biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with offices in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. QuatRx is developing novel compounds beginning in the late pre-clinical stage, through the completion of phase II clinical studies. These compounds can be rapidly developed for marketing either by QuatRx or its commercial partners. The Company’s initial therapeutic focus is on endocrine, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases and dermatology. Compounds are being acquired from a variety of sources, including other biopharmaceutical companies, academic institutions and large pharmaceutical companies. For press release and other Company information, please visit www.quatrx.com
QuatRx’s venture capital partners are Frazier & Company, based in Seattle, WA, and TL Ventures, located in Wayne, PA. Both of these partners have extensive experience in forming and financing emerging biopharmaceutical companies. These include ViroPharma, Inc., Tularik Inc., CV Therapeutics, Inc., Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. and Adolor Corporation. |
