BioCentury
ARTICLE | Emerging Company Profile

FPRT Bio: Neutralizing neuroinflammation

FPRT Bio's soluble TNF mimic blocks inflammation that drives ALS and PD

March 11, 2013 7:00 AM UTC

FPRT Bio Inc. is developing a protein therapeutic that could halt neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson's disease by blocking inflammatory signaling that causes neuronal cell death.

FPRT's sole asset is XPro1595, a subcutaneously administered PEGylated protein that mimics soluble tumor necrosis factor (sTNF). Ordinarily, sTNF promotes inflammation by forming homotrimers that bind to TNF receptor 1 (TNFRSF1A; TNFR1; CD120a). XPro1595 blocks this inflammatory signaling by forming heterotrimers with sTNF that cannot bind TNFR1...