CaPre drug candidate shows promising result on CRP level reduction

Sep 3 2010

Acasti Pharma Inc., a subsidiary of Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc. ("Neptune") (Nasdaq:NEPT) (TSX-V:NTB) reports significant results on the effects of its anti-dyslipidemic investigational drug candidate CaPre™ on C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, a biomarker of CardioVascular Disease risk (CVD) and associated with diabetes and obesity.

Severe dyslipidemic animals were treated once-daily with either 0.5g or 2.5g CaPre™ human equivalent dosing per day for 28 days. After dosing, circulating plasma concentrations of total CRP were measured using a commercially-available and validated immunoassay kit. The treated animals benefited from the treatment resulting in a reduction of CRP levels by 15% and 24%, respectively. 

It is recognized by the American Heart Association that testing CRP levels in the blood may be an additional way to assess cardiovascular disease risk. In addition, the prevalence of high CRP levels is accentuated in overweight and obese individuals now affecting 60% of the population of 20 years and over according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, USA).  

"The present results clearly suggest a beneficial lowering effect of CaPre™ on CRP. This observation, combined with our previous findings that CaPre™ reduces triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and elevates HDL-cholesterol (good cholesterol), indicates that CaPre™ offers a more complete protection against severe dyslipidemia and associated systemic inflammatory conditions as  cardiometabolic syndrome," said Dr. Farhad Amiri, Associate-Director, Preclinical Studies, R&D. 

"Accumulating evidence in the literature indicates that C-reactive protein, may be as important as LDL-cholesterol in assessing the development of atherosclerosis ("hardening of the arteries") and heart disease," said Dr. Pierre Lemieux, Chief Operating Officer of Acasti. "Chronic inflammation is associated with the most prevalent health problems today such as obesity and diabetes. It is now recognized that significant reduction of CRP may constitute an additional tool in the systemic management of 800,000 myocardial infractions and 700,000 strokes that occur in the United States each year," he added.