Reata is developing a series of Antioxidant Inflammation Modulators (called “AIMs”) with activity against a number of intractable diseases.
These unique drugs help to restore the balance between pro-oxidant and antioxidant signaling molecules within the cell by mimicking the body’s own natural regulators of inflammation. Through this mechanism, AIMs prevent harmful inflammation and the associated oxidative stress and organ/DNA damage caused by pro-oxidants. They also increase the production of antioxidants within the cell, increasing the body’s ability to protect against tissue damage caused by toxic insult, chronic health problems, and aging.
These activities occur through the control of several key transcription factors – “master switches” that simultaneously turn on groups of pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory genes. NF-κB and STAT3 are two important pro-inflammatory transcription factors that Reata’s AIMs have been shown to inhibit and which are the targets of significant drug discovery programs at a number of large pharmaceutical companies. These drugs have also been shown to increase transcription of Nrf2, which promotes the production of important antioxidant and anti-inflammatory proteins. Researchers at leading institutions have defined how and where this binding occurs at the molecular level.
Reata believes that mimicking this endogenous system for controlling inflammation has two major advantages over competing approaches. First, it addresses a fundamental problem in inflammation research – the high redundancy and complexity of signaling pathways. This redundancy limits the effectiveness of agents that focus on a single molecular target. Secondly, molecules that target this endogenous system should be well tolerated with excellent safety profiles.
Click here for a more detailed description of the mechanism of action of the AIMs.
Restoration of redox balance, or “homeostasis” has implications in a broad range of diseases associated with oxidative stress, toxic injury, and aging. These include cancer, renal/cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis), transplants, respiratory disease, and neurodegenerative disease. Human and animal studies conducted by leading researchers support the use of AIMs in each of these therapeutic areas.
Reata owns the intellectual property rights to multiple classes of AIMs and is developing drugs targeting a number of indications. The furthest advanced AIM compound, known as RTA 402, is in mid-stage clinical trials for cancer, chronic renal disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Results from initial clinical studies show that this drug is extremely well tolerated, affects the targeted biological pathways, and has significant anticancer activity.
A second AIM, RTA 404, is in advanced preclinical development for multiple sclerosis and neurodegenerative diseases. Additional AIMs are in early preclinical development for other indications. |
