Inflammasome Therapeutics, a private company, has finished enrolling participants in a Phase I pharmacokinetics and safety study for its novel drug K9. This brain- and retina-penetrant compound is being evaluated for its potential in treating various neuroinflammatory and degenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, MS, ALS, Parkinson’s, and geographic atrophy, as well as autoimmune conditions such as lupus and thyroid eye disease.
“Inflammasome Therapeutics is targeting inflammasome activation, a key driver in several neuroinflammatory and degenerative diseases, with its new drug K9,” said Dr. Paul Ashton, CEO and co-founder. “Unlike other drugs that block a single inflammasome and show only moderate efficacy, K9, a tablet that penetrates the brain and retina, blocks both key inflammasomes, showing dramatically superior results.”
Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati, co-founder of Inflammasome Therapeutics, added, “Our Kamuvudines demonstrate disease-modifying potential by directly targeting inflammation in the central nervous system and the periphery. Overcoming the blood-brain and blood-retina barriers has been a significant challenge, but our data suggest that Kamuvudines can effectively address neuroinflammation.”
The successful completion of this Phase I study paves the way for future clinical trials, which are expected to begin later this year.
Inflammasome Therapeutics is also advancing another dual inflammasome inhibitor, K8, for geographic atrophy, a severe form of macular degeneration with limited treatment options. K8 is administered via a sustained-release implant injected into the eye, providing effective drug delivery for up to three months.
Dr. Ambati, who has researched inflammasomes and their role in various conditions for over a decade, noted that earlier research linked anti-HIV drugs (NRTIs) with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s and geographic atrophy. However, NRTIs have significant toxicity. This led to the development of Kamuvudines, new molecules derived from NRTIs but without their toxic effects, maintaining the same inflammasome-inhibiting properties.
Founded by Jayakrishna Ambati, M.D., and Paul Ashton, Ph.D., Inflammasome Therapeutics focuses on advancing therapies for degenerative diseases and developing innovative delivery technologies. The company blends scientific expertise with development skills to create breakthrough products through licensing and internal development.
