Implicit to develop ex-Icos antibody for lung injury
This article was originally published in Scrip
Implicit Bioscience has acquired from Lilly a CD14-targeting antibody, which it will develop as a treatment for acute lung injury (ALI). The US major has received an undisclosed cash payment and has also taken an equity stake in the private Australian firm, which will pay royalties on future sales of the therapy.
The recombinant monoclonal antibody, IC14, had been in development for severe sepsis at Icos (acquired by Lilly in 2007) and already has a well-characterised safety and pharmacology profile, Implicit said. It intends to begin Phase II trials this year for the regulation of immune response in intensive care patients on mechanical ventilation.
ALI, marked by hypoxaemia, non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema and capillary leakage, often develops from inflammation related to acute trauma, severe pneumonia and sepsis. It can rapidly progress to acute respiratory distress and organ failure and affects around 200,000 people a year in the US, causing 75,000 deaths.
CD14 is involved in the activation of immune and lung inflammatory response to bacterial infection via the Toll-like receptor pathway, such inflammation being a major factor in the early development of ALI.
As part of the licensing deal, Implicit has also struck a separate agreement with several other parties involved in the past development of IC14, namely Johnson & Johnson, the Scripps Research Institute and Rockefeller University. These will receive undisclosed milestones and royalties.
Privately held Implicit is focusing on the development of clinical-stage immunomodulating therapies, and acquires and reprofiles projects which may have failed in other indications. It aims to develop these with the aid of non-dilutive third-party funding such as grants. Its current lead project is oglufanide disodium for serious infections including those caused by potential biowarfare agents (scripnews.com, January 28th, 2009).