Acologix, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company, today announced the results of its latest preclinical study demonstrating that AC-100, its therapeutic product candidate derived from an endogenous human protein, promotes cartilage regeneration in a large animal model. The data will be presented by Dr. David M. Rosen on March 6, 2010 at the 56th annual meeting of the ORS (Orthopaedic Research Society) in New Orleans, LA.
The effects of AC-100 on cartilage regeneration were evaluated in goats with standardized defects in knee cartilage. Four weekly intra-articular injections of AC-100 or placebo were administered. Quantity and quality of cartilage regeneration were evaluated after six months.
AC-100 dose dependently promoted cartilage repair compared to placebo. Furthermore, the new cartilage formed in response to AC-100 was mature, normal hyaline cartilage as assessed by several histological staining methods. Similar to previous studies, AC-100 exhibited a favorable safety profile in this study, with no inflammatory response.
"These results showing normal cartilage regeneration with AC-100 strongly support our excitement for this program, and we are looking forward to initiating clinical trials in osteoarthritis and traumatic cartilage injury," said Dr. Dawn McGuire, Chief Medical Officer of Acologix. "The previously demonstrated ability of AC-100 to promote regeneration of underlying damaged bone makes the use of AC-100 a unique approach for repair and regeneration of hard tissue in OA, RA, and traumatic injury."
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