Resomelagon (AP1189) – Lead Drug Candidate
SynAct Pharma’s drug candidate, resomelagon (AP1189), is a once-daily oral selective melanocortin agonist. Resomelagon selectively stimulates the MC1R and MC3R on target cells in the immune system that are directly involved in inflammation and its resolution. As the compound doesn’t stimulate MC2R, the anti-inflammatory and immune resolution effects (restoring the balance of the immune system) are not unwanted increase in the cortisol level, as seen with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) based therapies as induction of cortisol levels will induce side effects as seen following GC treatment. This is a clear advantage. Further as resomelagon is a biased agonist, it does not stimulate melanocortin pathways that are responsible for off target activity such as skin hyperpigmentation, which is therefore avoided.
Resomelagon has an advantageous safety and tolerability profile. Further as resomelagon is a biased agonist it does not stimulate melanocortin pathways that are responsible for off target activity as skin hyperpigmentation.
The development of resomelagon is focused 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) and in phase 2a in idiopathic membranous nephropathy (iMN).
- Host-directed therapy 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 study has been initiated in Dengue fever.