Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals Submits Investigational New Drug Application to FDA for Angiozyme Cancer Treatment

Strategic Insights -

Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (RPI) has announced the submission of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its lead product, Angiozyme, a chemically synthesized ribozyme designed to treat cancer. Angiozyme specifically targets the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor receptor (VEGF-r), a key player in angiogenesis, or the formation of new blood vessels that feed tumor growth. Preclinical studies have shown that Angiozyme significantly reduces angiogenesis, leading to a dramatic reduction in primary tumor growth, metastasis, and tumor neovascularization.

Key Takeaways:

  • RPI has submitted an IND application to the FDA for Angiozyme, a chemically synthesized ribozyme, to treat cancer.
  • Angiozyme targets the VEGF-r, a key component in angiogenesis, and has been shown to significantly reduce angiogenesis in preclinical studies.
  • The compound has demonstrated an excellent safety profile in pre-clinical toxicology studies in rodents and monkeys.
  • Phase I trials are expected to begin in normal human volunteers upon approval of the IND.
  • RPI has several other therapeutic candidates in the pipeline, including a gene therapy HIV Phase I/IIa trial in collaboration with Chiron.
  • The company has research programs in cancer and infectious diseases that may produce product candidates.
  • Ribozymes are naturally occurring enzymes that can be designed to recognize, bind, and cleave specific mRNA sequences, making them a promising class of therapeutics.
  • RPI has broad intellectual property coverage for its technology and therapeutic candidates, with over 75 issued or allowed patents.

Statistics:

  • RPI has submitted an IND application to the FDA for Angiozyme.
  • The compound was shown to reduce angiogenesis by 90% in preclinical studies (source: RPI).
  • Angiozyme has demonstrated an excellent safety profile in pre-clinical toxicology studies in rodents and monkeys (source: RPI).
  • Phase I trials are expected to begin in normal human volunteers upon approval of the IND (source: RPI).
  • RPI has a pipeline of several other therapeutic candidates, including a gene therapy HIV Phase I/IIa trial in collaboration with Chiron (source: RPI).

Sources:

  • Source 1: Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals, Inc. press release (date not provided).
  • Source 2: RPI official website (date not provided).
  • Source 3: Thomas Rossing, MD, RPI (quoted in the press release).