AZD-1656

conduit Pharmaceuticals announces plans to initiate Phase 2a trials in both systemic lupus erythematosus and ANCA-associated vasculitis for its lead clinical candidate, AZD1656 AZD1656, a HK-4 glucokinase activator initially developed by AstraZeneca for diabetes, is now being repurposed by Conduit for autoimmune disorders, leveraging its established safety profile and targeted immune-modulating effects Aug. 12, 2024 -- Conduit Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: CDT) (“Conduit” or the “Company”), today announced the selection of initial indications for its lead clinical candidate, HK-4 glucokinase activator AZD1656 licensed from AstraZeneca on August 7, 2024. Conduit intends to initiate Phase 2a clinical trials to evaluate AZD1656 for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (including lupus nephritis) and ANCA-associated vasculitis. This represents a significant milestone in the development of AZD1656, underscoring Conduit’s commitment to address unmet medical needs and its confidence in the asset's potential to impact patient outcomes positively. Carrying out Phase 2a, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus, inclusive of lupus nephritis patients, and patients suffering from ANCA-associated vasculitis, will enable Conduit to assess the potential of AZD1656 across the full spectrum of lupus patients. Simultaneously, we will evaluate the potential of AZD1656 across the broader aspects of autoimmune disorders. Originally developed by AstraZeneca through Phase 2b for diabetes mellitus, AZD1656 is a highly specific glucokinase activator that has undergone extensive safety testing, involving over 1,000 patients, in more than 20 trials. Conduit envisions AZD1656 as a potential cornerstone asset in the autoimmune sector, leveraging its established safety profile and targeted mechanism of action to activate the patient’s immune system and mitigate harmful inflammation. “Having reviewed the extensive data, we are delighted to advance AZD1656 into a new therapeutic area targeting systemic lupus erythematosus and ANCA-associated vasculitis,” said Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall, Chair of the Board of Directors at Conduit. “With its potential to become a first-in-class therapy for autoimmune diseases, AZD1656 represents a significant leap forward in our mission to develop ground-breaking treatments that could transform the landscape of autoimmune care and provide innovative treatments that can truly make a difference to patients.” Lupus affects over 5 million people worldwide, including 1.5 million Americans1. Yet, despite significant progress in the clinical understanding of the disease, treatment still relies heavily on the use of corticosteroids and non-specific immunosuppressants, widely known for their potentially severe side effects with long term use. Given the wide-ranging clinical manifestations of lupus there is a clear unmet need for safer treatments applicable to all patients. The global market size for lupus treatments, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other lupus-related conditions, was estimated to be around $2.7 billion in 2024. This market is expected to grow significantly, reaching approximately $4.9 billion by 2030 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 8.9%2. In addition, the market size of ANCA-associated vasculitis was highest in the U.S. among the seven major markets in 2023, accounting for approximately $620 million, and is expected to experience significant growth by 20323. Conduit is a multi-asset, clinical stage, disease-agnostic life science company delivering an efficient model for compound development. Conduit both acquires and funds the development of Phase 2-ready assets and then seeks an exit through third-party license deals following successful clinical trials. Led by a highly experienced team of pharmaceutical executives including Dr. David Tapolczay and Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall, this novel approach is a departure from the traditional pharma/biotech business model of taking assets through regulatory approval. 1 https://www.pfizer.com/disease-and-conditions/lupus#:~:text=Lupus%20is%20a%20global%20disease,in%20the%20United%20States%20alone.&text=Its%20prevalence%20varies%20significantly%20between%20regions. 2 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/systemic-lupus-erythematosus-treatment-market-8500 3 https://finance.yahoo.com/news/anca-associated-vasculitis-industry-epidemiology-084800557.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANkxj8q0WJx_FXr2sjJIlSmylTMmxaJeUARmiWNMn6zifDwMsjRLRxrwchkkTJpnSgmOepq9_4F4VcuFTnK9614lev4EU5ZewxV0sp-_HWjYRNJpQXDsL5LmvJKBUGk93MU9si4jNJXm1dHmn9v7YN7MTrQFHB0yTldyLyE3iDHJ The content above comes from the network. if any infringement, please contact us to modify.