NEWS OUT
Kalytera completes rodent toxicology studies for R-107
2021-03-12 09:07 ET - News Release
Mr. Robert Farrell reports
CLARITAS ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF IND-ENABLING RODENT TOXICOLOGY STUDIES WITH R-107
Claritas Pharmaceuticals Inc. (formerly Kalytera Therapeutics Inc.) has completed GLP (good laboratory practice) toxicology studies of R-107 in rodents. Claritas is developing R-107 as a therapy for vaccine-resistant COVID-19, influenza and other viral diseases.
The rodent toxicology studies were completed at Covance Laboratories Inc., under full GLP compliance, which is a prerequisite to phase 1 clinical studies according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines. Covance was named the Global Contract Research Organization (CRO) Company of the Year in 2020 by Frost & Sullivan and is considered to be the world's premier comprehensive drug development company, dedicated to advancing health care. Covance is FDA audited and approved to perform preclinical safety and toxicology studies.
The completion of these toxicology studies in rodents will provide appropriate regulatory support for injectable formulations of R-107 as well as for any oral or topical formulation of R-107 where the drug is absorbed into the blood and systemic exposure may consequently occur.
Data from rodent toxicology studies are strongly positive
The rodent investigations at Covance evaluated three dose levels of R-107: 250 milligrams, 400 milligrams and 600 milligrams per kilogram of body weight given daily as a singular intramuscular injection, the same route of administration that is planned for the initial clinical studies. In addition, R-107 was also administered to rodents as a repeat daily injection for seven consecutive days, a length of time consistent with the anticipated duration of therapy in the clinical setting of COVID-19 infection. Careful examination of the data collected in these studies revealed that administration of R-107 at all dose levels tested was well tolerated by the animals. Given that the intended therapeutic dose of R-107 in humans is only 10 milligrams to 15 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, the results of these completed toxicology studies are expected to provide at least a 10-fold safety margin for human use. This level of safety margin substantially exceeds the standard requirement of regulatory agencies, such as the FDA.
In addition, the rodent studies successfully measured the plasma levels of R-107 and its metabolites, including the therapeutically active payload metabolite, R-100. The plasma levels of both R-107 and R-100 were found to be linearly related to the dose level of R-107, a correlation that will simplify the selection of the optimal dosing regimen when the drug reaches the stage of clinical testing.
"The completion of this study moves us closer to the initiation of our phase 1 clinical study," stated Robert Farrell, president and chief executive officer of Claritas. "These toxicology studies in rodents are a key part of the mandatory GLP battery of studies necessitated by the FDA prior to the initiation of the phase 1 clinical trial in human subjects that will be initiated later this year at CMAX in Adelaide, Australia."
R-107 is a nitric-oxide-releasing molecule
R-107 is a liquid, nitric-oxide-releasing molecular pro-drug that can be administered by injection, in contrast to nitric oxide gas therapy, which requires a special type of delivery device and complex administration by trained respiratory therapists. When administered by injection, R-107 is slowly hydrolyzed by the blood, thereby releasing its active payload, R-100, which in turn steadily and slowly releases nitric oxide. This depot-like action of R-107 results in a sustained delivery of nitric oxide to tissues throughout the body, allowing for a smooth delivery of the active drug over 24 hours following a single dose of R-107.
Prof. Salvatore Cuzzocrea, president of the University of Messina and former president of the European Shock Society, is working with Salzman Group and Claritas, and he has read and approved of the scientific disclosure in this news release. Prof. Cuzzocrea has deep expertise regarding the medical use of nitric oxide and nitric oxide donors and has published more than 600 papers on nitric oxide. He has conducted research and experiments with nitric oxide and nitric oxide donors since 1994 and worked closely as an adviser with the Salzman Group team that designed and invented R-107.
The company is not making any express or implied claims that its product has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain COVID-19 (or the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus) at this time.
About Claritas Pharmaceuticals Inc. (formerly Kalytera Therapeutics Inc.)
Claritas Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for patients with significant unmet medical needs. Claritas focuses on areas of unmet medical need and leverages its expertise to find solutions that will improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's