deCODE Initiates Phase I Clinical Program for DG051 for the Prevention of Heart Attack
Monday August 14, 4:01 pm ET
REYKJAVIK, Iceland, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- deCODE genetics (Nasdaq: DCGN - News) today announced that it has begun enrolling patients in its Phase I clinical development program for DG051, the company's follow-on developmental compound for the prevention of heart attack. The ascending-dose, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study will examine the safety and tolerability profile of DG051 as well as pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
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"We are executing on our strategy to target the leukotriene pathway to develop new drugs for the prevention of heart attack. This work is built on our pioneering discoveries in human genetics, which have given us novel insights into the biology of heart attack and enabled us to take the lead in addressing this pathway to develop new therapeutics and diagnostics," said Kari Stefansson, CEO of deCODE.
DG051 is a novel small-molecule inhibitor of leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H), the protein made by one of the genes in the leukotriene pathway deCODE has linked to risk of heart attack. Like DG031, the company's lead compound for the prevention of heart attack now in a Phase III clinical trial, DG051 is designed to decrease risk of heart attack by decreasing the production of leukotriene B4 (LTB4), an end product of the leukotriene pathway and a potent promoter of inflammation. DG051 was discovered by deCODE's structural biology and chemistry groups, and in preclinical studies it has been shown in human blood ex vivo and in animal models to be a potent inhibitor of LTB4 production.
About deCODE
deCODE genetics (Nasdaq: DCGN - News) is a global leader in applying human genetics to develop drugs for common diseases. Our population approach has enabled us to discover and target key biological pathways involved in conditions ranging from heart attack to cancer. We are turning these discoveries into new medicine to better treat and prevent many of the biggest challenges to public health. deCODE is delivering on the promise of the new genetics.(SM) Visit us on the web at decode.com. |
