NephRx Corporation today announced issuance of a new U.S. patent for use of its novel growth factor peptide NX002 as a potential treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Animal studies suggest that NX002 may have applications in acute and chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It has been shown to stimulate the growth of epithelial cells and to promote mucosal wound healing after injury. NX002 is currently in preclinical studies for the treatment of IBD and in late preclinical development as a potential treatment for oral mucositis.
“Issuance of this new patent is important given the promising utility of NX002 as a potential treatment for serious disorders of the gastrointestinal system,” said James Koziarz, President and CEO of NephRx. “We have been encouraged by the efficacy demonstrated by NX002 in models of oral mucositis, and early studies suggest its distinctive mechanism of action also has potential as a novel treatment for inflammatory bowel disease. This family of painful and disabling conditions affects more than a million patients in the U.S. alone, and despite recent advances, many remain poorly treated.”
NX002 is a peptide derived from the naturally occurring growth factor AMP-18. Its multiple biological properties include the ability to protect cells from injury, stimulate cell growth and migration, and increase the accumulation of proteins that bind cells together.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued Patent No. 7910543, “Control of growth and repair of gastro-intestinal tissues by gastrokines and inhibitors.” Rights to this patent, which protects NX002 and related compounds, have been exclusively licensed to NephRx by the University of Chicago.
More than 100,000 young people in the US live with inflammatory bowel disease