Bayer AG and Axys Collaboration Results in Innovative Oral Asthma COMPOUND
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 14, 1998--Axys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AXPH) announced today that Bayer AG, of Leverkusen, Germany, is initiating development of an orally administered tryptase inhibitor as a drug for the treatment of asthma.
The compound was discovered by Bayer and Axys using Axys' patented Delta technology as part of a research and development collaboration entered into in November, 1994, between the two companies.
John Walker, Axys' chairman and chief executive officer, stated, "Since the inception of this collaboration, Axys and Bayer have pursued the ultimate goal of developing an orally available tryptase inhibitor for the treatment of asthma. The selection of a development candidate underscores both companies' belief that inhibiting tryptase is a promising modality for the treatment of asthma. Our previous clinical work with inhaled tryptase inhibitors provided strong evidence that inhibiting tryptase improved lung function in asthmatics."
Wolfgang Hartwig, Ph.D., head of worldwide research at Bayer AG, commented, "As previously indicated this year, Bayer's research on oral tryptase inhibitors for asthma showed promising results in animal models. We believe this class of compounds with an improved pharmacokinetic profile hold a great deal of potential as new therapeutic pathway in the treatment of asthma and other inflammatory diseases."
The compound was discovered by Bayer and Axys using Axys' patented Delta technology. Delta is a "master key" principle which allows for the design of potent and selective non-peptide small molecule inhibitors of serine proteases that have the characteristics of oral drugs: a low molecular weight compound which has proven to be efficacious and highly bioavailable in animal models.
Axys Pharmaceuticals is a leader in the integration of life science technologies with a focus on transforming gene discoveries into drugs. The company has research collaborations with world-class pharmaceutical companies, covering a broad range of therapeutic areas, including respiratory, cardiovascular, and infectious disease, as well as oncology and central nervous system disorders. |
