Date: 2012-10-15
Type of information: Grant
Company: Novimmune (Switzerland) and FIGHT HLH consortium
Investors: European Commission
Amount: € 6 million
Funding type: grant
Planned used: This grant will be used to support clinical testing of NovImmune's anti-interferon gamma drug candidate, NI-0501.
Others: NovImmune has announced that the European Commission has awarded a 6 million euro FP7 grant to the "FIGHT HLH" consortium of institutions to support clinical testing of NovImmune's anti-interferon gamma drug candidate, NI-0501.
Led by NovImmune, the FIGHT HLH Consortium includes leading institutions working to combat the impact of HLH (Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis), an orphan disease, on patients and their families. It includes Meyer University Children Hospital in Florence, Pediatric Hospital Bambino Gesù in Rome and Lonza Biologics Plc.
The Principal Investigator of the first clinical trial of the FIGHT HLH program, Prof. Maurizio Aricò, commented, "We are thrilled by the opportunity to collaborate with NovImmune to advance NI-0501 into clinical development as the evidence is compelling that interferon-gamma is a primary driver of the disease and dramatic results in preclinical models have been demonstrated."
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a severe immune system disorder, the genetic underpinnings of which are becoming clear. HLH is caused by a severe impairment of cytotoxic T cell function that triggers aberrant activation of the immune system. This is mediated to a large degree by dramatic increase in levels of IFN-gamma — the target of NI-0501. The primary form of the disease typically arises in pediatric patients, is lethal if untreated, and has a 40% mortality rate with current best available care. The secondary form of the disease typically arises later in life, and is also associated with significant mortality. HLH is an orphan disease for which no drugs have been approved, representing a high-unmet-need.
NI-0501 is a fully human monoclonal antibody discovered and developed by Novimmune as a potent inhibitor of IFN-gamma. NovImmune advanced NI-0501 through Phase I clinical trials, in which the drug candidate was well tolerated at therapeutically relevant doses. In preclinical studies NovImmune has demonstrated that neutralizing IFN-gamma in animal models of HLH reversed organ pathology and normalized key clinical parameters to protect animals from death, whereas inhibition of other cytokines did not provide such protection.
Therapeutic area: Immunological diseases
