Zenyth, MuriGen collaborate on inflammation targets

Zenyth Therapeutics (ASX:ZTL), formerly Amrad, and unlisted Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) spinout MuriGen Therapeutics are to co-develop a new class of drugs that target arthritis and other inflammatory diseases.

The collaboration aims to develop therapeutic antibodies based on recent findings by scientists at WEHI that blocking the activity of G-CSF (cytokine granulocyte colony stimulating factor) can have a profound impact on the development of inflammatory diseases in animal models.

G-CSF and its receptor regulate the production of key inflammatory cells in the blood. These inflammatory cells can cause diseases such as arthritis, psoriasis, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

"If you can block the activity of G-CSF, then you can block the production of these cells and they're not available to infiltrate inflammatory sites," said Zenyth CEO Andrew Nash. "We think it's a really aggressive way to tackle the disease."

The team of scientists at WEHI, headed by Prof Ian Wicks, found that blocking G-CSF activity compared favourably with blocking the cytokine TNF, the target of current highly successful treatments for inflammatory disease. WEHI recently lodged a patent application in relation to these results, and that patent has been exclusively licensed to MuriGen.

"MuriGen are mainly focused on target discovery," said Nash. "They have a technology platform that enables them to discover new targets like G-CSF. They see us as a good partner because we have experience in generating therapeutic antibodies."

The research development program between the two companies will generate therapeutic antibodies, as well as soluble receptors as therapeutics, using Zenyth's recently acquired Dyax phase display antibody libraries. "We'll be investigating those and selecting a lead to take into development," said Nash.

Under the agreement, Zenyth and MuriGen will jointly fund research and development of the potential drug on a cost sharing basis through to completion of proof-of-concept in human clinical trials. Once this has been completed, Nash said, "the plan would be to find a partner to move it through."

Zenyth's shares were steady at $0.52 at the time of writing.