PharmaMar's Kahalalide F, Phase II Trials for the Treatment of Severe Psoriasis
Madrid (ots/PRNewswire)
PharmaMar today announced that Kahalalide F (KF), its marine-origin compound, has entered into Phase II trials for the treatment of patients with severe psoriasis.
KF is currently undergoing Phase II clinical trials in various tumours: melanoma, non-small lung cancer and hepatocarcinoma.
During the Phase I clinical trials on oncological patients treated with KF, it was found that the compound had clinical potential to treat severe psoriasis. These signs of activity, together with the product's excellent safety profile, led to the initiation of the clinical development of KF for psoriasis, thereby widening the range of therapeutic applications for this compound beyond the field of oncology.
Regulatory authorities have approved the commencement of Phase II studies on patients with psoriasis, which will be undertaken in hospitals in both Spain and France.
This is not the first compound with anti-proliferative activity to show both anti-tumoural and anti-psoriatic activity: methotrexate is a clear example of such dual usage.
Approximately 100 million people worldwide suffer from psoriasis, a chronic, non-contagious inflammation of the skin, characterised by reddish plaques and patches with scales. It affects all ages, but it is most prominent among adults (it is equally common among men and women). The disease is difficult to treat and impairs patients' quality of life.
Commenting on the announcement, Isabel Lozano, CEO of PharmaMar, said: "PharmaMar continues to focus on advancing cancer care, however where it makes sense to widen the range of therapeutic applications for our compounds, we will explore the opportunity."
Notes to editors
Kahalalide F
Kahalalide F is one of a family of novel peptides isolated from the Hawaiian mollusk, Elysia rufescens. It is currently in Phase II trials for hepatocarcinoma.
PharmaMar
PharmaMar is a biopharmaceutical company, advancing cancer care through the discovery and development of innovative marine-derived medicines. PharmaMar's clinical portfolio currently includes Yondelis (TM) in phase II clinical trials (co-developed with Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development), designated Orphan Drug for STS by the EMEA in 2001 and Orphan Drug for ovarian cancer in 2003; Aplidin(R), in phase II, designated Orphan Drug for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2003; Kahalalide F in phase II and ES-285 in phase I clinical trials.
PharmaMar, based in Madrid, Spain, is a subsidiary of the Zeltia Group (Spanish stock exchange: ZEL.MC; Bloomberg: ZEL SM; Reuters: ZEL.MC). PharmaMar can be found on the Web at http://www.pharmamar.com
Contact:
Lola Casals, PharmaMar, Tel: +34-91-846-6000. James Strong & Deborah
Scott, Financial Dynamics, Tel: +44-207-831-3113