BioCentury
ARTICLE | Emerging Company Profile

Carolus: Targeting cytokines

Carolus developing anti-inflammatory peptides with better safety profile

August 2, 2010 7:00 AM UTC

While cytokines are known to be effective targets to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, inhibiting these molecules can restrict the defensive functions of the immune system and increase a patient's susceptibility to infection. Carolus Therapeutics Inc. believes its peptides can reduce inflammation while avoiding immunosuppression by specifically disrupting the interactions of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

President and CEO Court Turner told BioCentury that the problem with most potent anti-inflammatory agents that target cytokines is that "they are so competitive that they block all cognate ligands, and you start running into side effects."...