Ophthalmic disease
In vitro and mouse studies suggest the COL4A5-mimetic peptide AXT107 could help treat CNV and retinal detachment. In vitro, AXT107 bound integrins αvβ3 and α5β1 with Ki values of 1.29 and 2.21 nM, respectively. In a mouse model of ischemia-induced retinal neovascularization, intraocular injection of AXT107 decreased the area of neovascularization compared with a scrambled peptide. In two mouse models of CNV, intraocular AXT107 decreased the area of subretinal neovascularization, and in one of the models, intraocular AXT107 plus Zaltrap aflibercept decreased the area of subretinal neovascularization compared with either agent alone. In a mouse model of exudative retinal detachment, AXT107 decreased retinal detachment compared with the scrambled peptide. Next steps by AsclepiX Therapeutics LLC include IND-enabling studies of AXT107.
AsclepiX has AXT107 in preclinical testing for diabetic macular edema (DME). ...