ATL1102 ATL1102 is an antisense drug that ATL is developing for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, or MS. ATL1102 inhibits CD49d, a subunit of Very Late Antigen-4, or VLA-4. Studies in animal models have demonstrated that inhibiting VLA-4 positively affects a number of inflammatory diseases, including MS. We licensed ATL1102 to ATL in December 2001 and in February 2008, ATL licensed ATL1102 to Teva. In 2008, ATL and Teva reported Phase 2a results of ATL1102 showing significantly reduced disease activity in patients with relapsing remitting MS. In 2010, Teva terminated its agreement with ATL and returned ATL1102 back to ATL. ATL is seeking a partner to continue developing ATL1102 in patients with MS.
ANTISENSE THERAPEUTICS Antisense says it has begun dosing primates in its China toxicology study of ATL1102 for multiple sclerosis and is preparing earlier phase IIa results for publication. In 2008, Antisense and its then partner Israel’s Teva Pharmaceutical said a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase IIa study met its primary endpoint showing a significant reduction by 54.4 percent (p = 0.01) in the cumulative number of new active brain lesions in patients taking ATL/TV1102 for eight weeks, compared to placebo, as measured by magnetic resonance images (BD: Jun 30, 2008). In 2010, Teva handed ATL1102 back to Antisense (BD: Mar 24, 2010). Today, Antisense said the six month chronic primate toxicology study was being conducted at Pharmaron in China and was intended to underpin and validate plans to secure a partner to take ATL1102 to a phase IIb multiple sclerosis trial. Antisense said that dosing was expected to be completed by the end of the 2013, with results in early 2014. Antisense said that the efficacy outcomes from the 2008 study were viewed to be as good as, if not superior to, those achieved with Tysabri which had sales of more than $US1.5 billion in 2012. The company said that both its antisense ATL1102 and the monoclonal antibody Tysabri targeted the VLA-4 receptor.
Antisense said ATL1102 “could be as potent as Tysabri but potentially safer, cheaper to manufacturer and more conveniently administered”. The company said it was working with the phase IIa trial’s principal investigator, the University of Cologne’s Prof Volker Limmroth to finalize a scientific paper on the phase IIa trial results for submission to a scientific journal for publication later this year.
We will not be doing a CR....if trial results are positive....$$$$$$$$
ANP Price at posting:
14.0¢ Sentiment: ST Buy Disclosure: Held
