SynAct Pharma focuses on two development paths
- Inflammatory and autoimmune diseases where the lead compound resomelagon (AP1189) currently is in phase 2b clinical development in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in phase 2a in idiopatic membranous nephropathy (iMN), and planned for clinical testing in polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in phase 2a.
- Host-directed treatment in viral infections where resomelogon has the potential to interact with a viral-induced hyper-inflammatory responses as demonstrated in Covid-19 when administration of the compound facilitated faster respiratory recovery. Recently a phase 2 proof of concept studies has been initiated in Dengue fever.
Challenges with Current Treatments of Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases (e.g. Rheumatoid Arthritis)
- No curative treatments available.
- For many patients the time to diagnosis is too long meaning that treatment as defined in current international treatment guidelines is initiated to late Despite diagnosis far from all patients are offered first line treatment as defined in international treatment guidelines.
- Up to 50% of patients are failing to respond to 1st-line therapy.
- Many patients are treated with glucocorticoids to obtain disease control with significant risk for long term use and risk of developing unwanted “steroid-hormone” side effects.
- Second line treatments (biologic treatment and JAK inhibitors) are expensive and also associated with adverse events.
- Current treatments options are associated with unwanted- often treatment limiting side effects- including infections due to immunosuppression.