What is a Spiegelmer?
Transcription
What is a Spiegelmer?
Therapeutisch wirksame Spiegelmere Bionnale 6. Mai 2008 Berlin Dr. Axel Vater, Senior Scientist, Corporate Development NOXXON Discovers and Develops NonNon-Immunogenic SpiegelmerSpiegelmer-Based Therapeutics that can Block Strong ProteinProtein-ProteinProtein-Interactions. Interactions. locations: locations: Berlin, Germany Halle a.d. Saale, Germany Cambridge, MA, USA (NOXXON Inc.) employees: employees: 36 2 1 Investors TVM Capital Sofinnova Partners DEWB Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners IBG Beteiligungsgesellschaft SachsenSachsen-Anhalt Pfizer Seventure Partners The Dow Chemical Company VC Fonds Berlin Chairman, Board of Directors: Directors: Dr. Walter Wenninger What is a Spiegelmer? Spiegelmers are mirrormirror-image oligonucleotides that bind and efficiently inhibit target molecules in a manner conceptionally similar to antibodies. antibodies. They are tailortailor-made therapeutic products which combine the benefits of small molecule drugs and biopharmaceuticals. biopharmaceuticals. 4 2 Dominant IP Position > 200 issued patents and > 100 patent applications exclusive license for all SELEX processes in discovery, production and use of Spiegelmers worldwide exclusivity for mirroring aptamers 5 Spiegelmer Technology 3 Spiegelmer Technology Combines Evolutionary Screening Techniques Selection of RNA structures from libraries of 1015 different compounds With Chiral (Mirror) Principles Use of mirror-image nucleotides that renders RNA fully biostable 7 Combinatorial Oligonucleotide Libraries A, G, C, U 41 = 4 4 2 Pool of randomized RNA or DNA = 16 4 3 = 64 4 4 = 256 4 5 = 1,024 4 6 = 4,096 4 7 = 16,384 1015 different sequences 1015 different shapes Selection of Aptamers 4 25 = 1,125,899,906,842,624 5'-(N)25-3', e.g. 5'-CGCCAGUAAGUAAGCCUCUGUUAAG-3' 8 4 natural target mirror-image target SPIEGELMER TECHNOLOGY selection RNA library (1015 compounds) amplification Spiegelmer (L-RNA) binding to the natural target aptamer (D-RNA) binding to the mirror-image target 9 Chirality of RNA Nucleobase 4' 3' D-RNA 1' 2' Nucleobase biologically unstable! 10 5 Chirality of RNA in the mirror 100 % biostable! 4' 3' D-RNA 1' 2' 4' 1' 2' 3' L-RNA (Spiegelmer) biologically unstable! 11 Spiegelmer Properties 6 Spiegelmers are Specific Inhibitors H3C-(CH2)6-C=O O S F L S P E HQ R V Q QR G S K E S K K P P A K L Q P R NOX-B11 has the same requirements for binding to ghrelin as the ghrelin receptor GHS-R! 13 Spiegelmers are Biostable an aptamer, composed of unmodified all-D-nucleotides, and a Spiegelmer, composed of all-L-nucleotides, were incubated in human serum at 37 °C and analyzed after the indicated time points; explorative approach all-D-RNA all-L-RNA (aptamer) L 0 12 24 36 48 60 [seconds] (Spiegelmer) 0 12 24 36 48 60 [hours] 100 80 60 40 20 14 7 Spiegelmers are Physicochemically Stable storage of NOX-E36 (1 mM) at 37 °C in water or HGS b uffer for three months; HGS: isotonic, histidine glycine sucrose buffered parenteral injection formulation; analysis by ion exchange chromatography 3 months, 37 °C in water Control Absorption [260 nm] 0.4 3 months, 37 °C in HGS buffer 0.4 0.4 12.4 12.4 12.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 100 % 100 % 100 % 0.0 0.0 0 5 10 15 20 25 0.0 0 5 10 15 20 25 0 Time [min] Time [min] 5 10 15 20 25 Time [min] NOX-E36 displays high physicochemical stability in solution 15 Spiegelmers are Physicochemically Stable Inhibition of chemotaxis [% of control] storage of NOX-E36 (1 mM) at 37 °C in water or HGS b uffer for three months; HGS: isotonic, histidine glycine sucrose buffered parenteral injection formulation; functional analysis using a (cellular) chemotaxis assay 100 data after 3 months storage 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 control Water, 37 °C HGS, 37 °C NOX-E36 is fully functional after long-term storage in solution 16 8 Spiegelmers are Non-Immunogenic Serum Dilution [1000-fold] Compound: Model: Readout: Spiegelmer NOX-B11(3), 1 mg/kg s.c. Rabbit (3 groups, n = 5) Antigen-specific IgG; ELISA Spiegelmer (ELISA, Spiegelmer) 250 Spiegelmer + Adjuvant 200 (ELISA, Spiegelmer) 150 Spiegelmer + mBSA + Adjuvant 100 (ELISA, Spiegelmer) Control + mBSA + Adjuvant 50 (ELISA, mBSA) 0 0 7 14 28 35 65 95 Time [day] 17 Spiegelmers Do Not Trigger TLR-8 human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were treated with 1 µg/ml Resiquimod (R-848) or D- and L-RNA oligonucleotides (10 µg/ml) and complexed with DOTAP for 24 h. TNF was determined by ELISA. (thio = phosphorothioate) thio D-RNA 40 thio D-RNA 41 thio D-RNA 42 liposomes Resiquimod thio L-RNA 40 thio L-RNA 41 thio L-RNA 42 L-RNA 40 L-RNA 41 L-RNA 42 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 TNF α [ng/ml] 18 9 Spiegelmers Do Not Trigger TLR-3 NFκB in nuclear extracts [∆A450/mg] human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) expressing TLR3, were stimulated with Poly(I:C), Resiquimod (R848), or Spiegelmers (25 µg/ml) for 2.5 h; cells were harvested and nuclear extracts were prepared to determine NFkB activation (ELISA). 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 PBS Poly (I:C) R848 NOX-E36 NOX-A12 contr. SPM 19 Characteristics of Spiegelmers Stability Affinity Tolerability Extremly high, proven in vitro and in vivo High, Kd in low nM range or better Good, proven in in vivo models Toxicity No critical issue so far Immunogenicity No critical issue so far Pharmacokinetics Efficacy Intracellular Delivery Modifications offer a target focused half life in vivo, ranging from 1 hour to >> 1 day Proven in various in vivo models for different Spiegelmers With specific formulation methods 20 10 Anti-Inflammatory Spiegelmer: MCP-1-Inhibitor NOX-E36 21 Pathophysiology of MCP-1 MCP-1 (Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1) is an early mediator for the recruitment of activated macrophages to sites of inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) Renal disease Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Multiple sclerosis (MS) Atherosclerosis / Restenosis Obesity Asthma Cancer 22 11 NOX-E36, Secondary Structure 20 30 10 40 EG aP KD 40 3’ 23 KD Determination NOX-E36-5'PEG Surface Plasmon Resonance Experiments (Biacore); NHS/EDC immobilized hu CCL2/ MCP-1, 37 °C 10 µl/min; no mas s transport limitation NOX-E36-5`PEG ka [1/Ms] kd [1/s] KA [1/M] KD [M] 1.38-2.20 x105 1.93 x10-4 0.75-1.14x109 0.88-1.34 x10-9 1000 KD ≈ 0.88 – 1.34 nM R.U. 750 500 250 baseline 0 0 200 400 600 800 Time [s] 24 12 NOX-E36 Chemokine Cross Reactivity Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Experiments (Biacore) CC Differentiates binding to CCL2 by factor of CXC Differentiates binding to CCL2 by factor of CXC/ XC/ CX3C Differentiates binding to CCL2 by factor of CCL1 /I-309 --- CXCL1/ GROa --- CXCL12a/ SDF-1a --- CCL2/ MCP-1 1* CXCL2/ GROb --- CXCL12b/ SDF-1b --- CCL3/ MIP-1a 5.84 CXCL3/ GROg --- CCL4/ MIP-1b > 1000-1500/ unspecific CXCL4/ PF-4 --- > 10.000/ unspecific XCL1/ Lymphoactin --- --- CX3CL1/Fraktalkine --- CCL5/ RANTES --- CXCL5/ ENA-78 CCL7/ MCP-3 --- CXCL6/ GCP-2 CCL8/ MCP-2 5.6 – 8.9 CXCL7/ NAP-2 CCL11/ Eotaxin 5.6 – 8.9 CXCL8/ IL-8 CCL13/ MCP-4 --- CXCL9/ MIG CCL14/ HCC-1 --- CXCL10/ IP-10 --- CXCL11/ I-TAC > 10.000/ unspecific 10.000/ unspecific 2-3 --280/ unspecific •dissociation constant KD for NOX-E36 ~0.89 nM CCL6/ CCL9/ CCL10/ CCL12 not expressed in humans 25 NOX-E36 Species Reactivity Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Experiments (Biacore) CCL2/ MCP-1 Differentiates binding to human CCL2 by factor of KD [nM] Human 1 0.89 Monkey 1.01 0.90 Canine 1.35 1.20 Porcine 0.92 0.82 Rabbit --- --- Mouse --- --- Rat --- --- 26 13 Inhibition of MCP-1 in Cell Culture chemotaxis assay (human monocytic cell line THP-1); final MCP-1 concentration 0.5 nM; 3 h cell migration at 37°C + resazurin % of control @ 0.5 nM huMCP-1 100 80 IC50 ≈ 500 pM 60 40 20 0 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 NOX-E36 [nM] 27 Efficacy Study in 'Lupus Mice' Model: MRL / Faslpr mice (female), spontaneously developing immune complex nephritis; animals start to develop first nephritis symptoms at an age of ≈ 12 weeks. Treatment: three s.c. administrations per week (10 mg/kg) for ten weeks (with murine-specific NOX-E36) treatment for 10 weeks birth first symptoms start treatment end treatment 0 12 14 24 age of mice [weeks] 28 14 NOX-E36 Reduces Glomerular Destruction Renal Histology of NOX-E36 vs. vehicle treated MRL/Faslpr Mice untreated (vehicle) treated (NOX-E36) dilated tubuli protein casts scarred glomeruli periodic acid Schiff stained paraffin sections destruction of glomerular architecture - loss of endothelial cells in glomerular capillaries - fibroblast proliferation; macrophage infiltration tubulointerstitial infiltration of inflammatory cells prevented by NOX-E36 treatment (0.9 µmol/kg s.c. for 10 weeks 3 times per week) periglomerular accumulation of inflammatory cells 29 O. Kulkarni et al. (2007) J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., Vol. 18, 2350-2358. Renal Macrophage Infiltration untreated (vehicle) macrophage count (Mac2+ cells) in and around the glomeruli tubulointerstitial T cell count (CD3+ cells) treated (NOX-E36) prevented by mNOX-E36-PEG treatment (0.9 µmol/kg s.c. for 10 weeks 3 times per week) Mac2+: 39 % (13.4 8.2) CD3+: 62 % (20.3 7.7) O. Kulkarni et al. (2007) J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., Vol. 18(8), 2350-2358. 30 15 Renal Effects of mNOX-E36 Therapy mNOX-E36-PEG (10 mg/kg) Glomerular filtration rate ↑↑ Albuminuria [ratio albumin/creatinin] ↓↓ IgG [glomerular score] Activity index [score] * ~ ↓↓ Chronicity index [score] ↓ Glomerular MΦ [Mac2+ cells/glom] * ↓ Interstitial MΦ [Mac2+ cells/hpf] * T cells [CD3+ cells/hpf] * ↓↓ ↓↓ 31 O. Kulkarni et al. (2007) J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., Vol. 18(8), 2350-2358. NOX-E36 reduces lung damage Lung Histology of NOX-E36 vs. vehicle treated MRL/Faslpr Mice untreated (vehicle) O. Kulkarni et al. (2007) J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., Vol. 18(8), 2350-2358. treated (mNOX-E36) 32 16 NOX-E36 Improves Skin and Eye Symptoms untreated (vehicle) treated (NOX-E36) prevented by NOX-E36 treatment two-sided enophthalmos and conjunctivitis (treatment for 10 weeks 3 times per week) normal appearance: - eyes loss of fur (alopecia) - skin loss of vibrissae - vibrissae 33 O. Kulkarni et al. (2007) J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., Vol. 18, 2350-2358. Efficacy Study in Diabetic Mice Model: Nephropathy in male, unilaterally nephrectomized obese diabetic (db/db) mice Treatment: unilateral nephrectomy at age 6 weeks treatment with mNOX-E36-3‘PEG from age 16 – 24 weeks three s.c. administrations per week (14 mg/kg) Unilateral nephrectomy Treatment with mNOX-E36-PEG ↓↓↓ ↓↓↓↓↓↓ ↓↓↓ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Month of age 34 17 Efficacy Study in Diabetic Mice Glomerulosclerosis score is improved by mNOX-E36 35 V. Ninichuk et al. (2008) Am. J. Pathol., Vol. 172(3). Efficacy Study in Diabetic Mice Functional parameter: Glomerular filtration rate 400 GFR (ml/min) p = 0.001 300 200 100 0 control mNOX-E36 PEG SPM V. Ninichuk et al. (2008) Am. J. Pathol., Vol. 172(3). 36 18 NOX-E36 for Inflammatory Kidney Diseases proprietary Spiegelmer developed by NOXXON method of action: potent (picomolar) inhibitor of pro-inflammatory chemokine MCP-1 lead indication: Lupus nephritis, with potential for other inflammatory diseases proof of concept for Lupus nephritis and Diabetic nephropathy in relevant animal models large market potential in Lupus, a major disease with unmet medical need (≈ 900,000 patients in US) expected to enter phase I in late 2008 37 NOXXON's Development Pipeline Drug Discovery Drug Candidate Preclinical Research NOXNOX-E36 (MCP(MCP-1) Lupus Nephritis NOXNOX-A12 (SDF(SDF-1) Diabetic Retinopathy Preclinical Development Clinical Development Phase I Q4 / 2008 Phase I 2009 NOXNOX-B11 (ghrelin (ghrelin)) Obesity NOXNOX-C89 (CGRP) Migraine NOXNOX-F37 (vasopressin (vasopressin)) Heart Failure pre-clinical PoC shown, ready for out-licensing NOXNOX-A50 (HMGA1b, intracellular) intracellular) Cancer NOXNOX-D14 (Complement (Complement inhibitor) inhibitor) Inflammation (undisclosed) undisclosed) Diabetes Drug Discovery Partnership Pfizer Drug Discovery Partnership Roche 19 Thank You! www.noxxon.net Dr. Axel Vater Senior Scientist Corporate Development Tel.: +49 - (0)30 - 726247 - 100 Fax: +49 - (0)30 - 726247 - 225 [email protected] 20