Cardiovascular; hematology

Patient sample and mouse studies suggest inhibiting S100A9 could help treat diabetes-related atherosclerosis and thrombocytosis. In plasma samples from Type II diabetes patients, levels of S100A9 were higher than in samples from healthy volunteers. In a mouse model of diabetes-induced thrombocytosis, the S100A9-targeting small molecule paquinimod or systemic or hematopoietic-specific knockout of S100A9 decreased reticulated platelet numbers in the blood compared with vehicle or normal S100A9 expression, respectively. In a mouse model of diabetes-induced atherosclerosis, paquinimod decreased reticulated platelets in the blood and atherosclerotic lesion size. Next steps could include testing other S100A9 inhibitors in the models.

Active Biotech AB has the immunomodulator paquinimod (57-57; ABR-215757) in Phase II testing for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Phase I for systemic sclerosis...