La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company (OTCBB: LJPC) (the “Company”) today announced that it has acquired the rights to a novel class of compounds known as Regenerative Immunophilin Ligands (“RILs”) from privately held GliaMed, Inc. (“GliaMed”). With this acquisition, the Company will focus its resources on the emerging field of regenerative medicine.
RILs are small-molecule compounds that, based on preliminary preclinical experiments, may have the potential to promote the regeneration of a wide range of tissues, including complex skin tissue, lung tissue, cardiac muscle, cartilage, and bone, following acute injury. Preliminary preclinical experiments suggest that these compounds may induce stem cell-like cells at the site of acute injury, and that these stem cell-like cells then develop into site-specific, fully differentiated cells when cued to do so by local stimuli.
La Jolla plans to rapidly advance the development of its lead RIL compound, LJP1485, with an initial focus on scar remodeling. Preclinical animal models have suggested that LJP1485 has the ability to accelerate healing with functionally normal tissue following a surgical wound, reduce pulmonary fibrosis following lung injury, and promote the regeneration of cardiac tissue following induced myocardial infarction. A confirmatory preclinical study is being undertaken and is expected to complete by the end of the second quarter of 2011.
“We are excited to be advancing the development of this novel class of compounds in the field of regenerative medicine,” commented Deirdre Y. Gillespie, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of La Jolla. “Our initial focus on scar remodeling is based not only on LJP1485’s significant therapeutic potential in this indication, but also on our belief that it will be relatively quick and straightforward to evaluate clinical proof-of-concept here.”
Read more: http://www.pharmiweb.com/PressReleases/pressrel.asp?ROW_ID=38789#ixzz1IezKowQI
RILs are small-molecule compounds that, based on preliminary preclinical experiments, may have the potential to promote the regeneration of a wide range of tissues, including complex skin tissue, lung tissue, cardiac muscle, cartilage, and bone, following acute injury. Preliminary preclinical experiments suggest that these compounds may induce stem cell-like cells at the site of acute injury, and that these stem cell-like cells then develop into site-specific, fully differentiated cells when cued to do so by local stimuli.
La Jolla plans to rapidly advance the development of its lead RIL compound, LJP1485, with an initial focus on scar remodeling. Preclinical animal models have suggested that LJP1485 has the ability to accelerate healing with functionally normal tissue following a surgical wound, reduce pulmonary fibrosis following lung injury, and promote the regeneration of cardiac tissue following induced myocardial infarction. A confirmatory preclinical study is being undertaken and is expected to complete by the end of the second quarter of 2011.
“We are excited to be advancing the development of this novel class of compounds in the field of regenerative medicine,” commented Deirdre Y. Gillespie, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of La Jolla. “Our initial focus on scar remodeling is based not only on LJP1485’s significant therapeutic potential in this indication, but also on our belief that it will be relatively quick and straightforward to evaluate clinical proof-of-concept here.”
Read more: http://www.pharmiweb.com/PressReleases/pressrel.asp?ROW_ID=38789#ixzz1IezKowQI