Pharmabcine Commences Phase I Clinical Trial of Novel TIE2 Agonistic Antibody for NAMD, Administering Initial Patient Dose
Thursday, July 27, 2023
PharmAbcine Inc. (KOSDAQ: 208340ks) is a clinical-stage biotech company that focuses on developing next-generation antibody therapeutics. Recently, the company made an exciting announcement regarding the Phase I clinical trial of PMC-403, their novel TIE2 agonistic antibody designed for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).
The Phase I clinical trial involves both single ascending-dose and multiple ascending-dose cohorts, and the dosing of the first of the 36 planned study subjects has already begun. This open-label, multi-center study is currently enrolling patients at various hospitals in South Korea, including Seoul National University Bundang Hospital.
The main objectives of this trial are to evaluate the safety, tolerability, maximum tolerated dose (MTD), recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D), as well as the clinical efficacy and pharmacokinetics of PMC-403 in patients with nAMD. This condition is an advanced form of macular degeneration that leads to significant central vision loss due to neovascular and non-neovascular damages.
PMC-403 is a potential first-in-class antibody that targets and activates TIE2, a receptor found specifically in vascular endothelial cells. When the antibody binds to these receptors, it helps normalize and stabilize pathologically leaky blood vessels. PharmAbcine has been working on PMC-403 not only as a treatment for AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration) but also for other conditions such as DME (Diabetic Macular Edema) and DR (Diabetic Retinopathy). The company also has plans to explore its potential in treating other systemic vessel-related diseases.
Dr. Sagong Min, Professor of Yeungnam University Hospital, who administered the first dose to a patient, expressed optimism about PMC-403's ability to stabilize abnormal blood vessels and reduce leakage, potentially offering a new treatment option for patients who do not respond to or have relapsed after using existing anti-VEGF drugs.
Dr. Jin-San Yoo, CEO of PharmAbcine, emphasized the significance of this clinical trial, recognizing the unmet needs in ophthalmology where patients who do not respond to or have relapsed on current anti-VEGF drugs lack alternative therapeutic options. He believes that PMC-403's positive therapeutic effects in nAMD, one of the most prevalent vessel-related ocular diseases, have the potential to revolutionize the market and unlock the full potential of this groundbreaking treatment.
