Alliance for Children's Therapeutics (ACT) Presents Dalazatide Data Demonstrating Positive Response in Lupus

SEATTLE, June 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alliance for Children's Therapeutics today presented positive, updated data from an ex vivo study using KPI's Therapeutics/Kineta's lead drug Dalazatide for children and teens with lupus nephritis. The results were presented at the European League Against Rheumatism's 17^th Annual Congress in London. Dr. Anne Stevens, a researcher at the Seattle Children's Research Institute, is leading the study and presented the work at the congress.

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Lupus nephritis is an autoimmune disease which causes kidney inflammation and damage. Current medications are effective in reducing some of the inflammation associated with the disease, but they also suppress normal functions of the immune system, an undesirable side effect that is particularly problematic in children.

In particular, effector memory T cells associated with development of other autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, inflammatory bowel diseases and rheumatoid arthritis appear to play an important role in lupus nephritis. T cells secrete inflammatory mediators (cytokines) that cause tissue damage and inflammation.  T cells and B cells can amplify inflammatory responses thereby causing damage to the otherwise healthy tissue.

"New study data shows that patients with active lupus nephritis express higher levels of the Kv 1.3 channel, the target of Dalazatide, than do patients with inactive disease or healthy volunteers," said Dr. Stevens. "T cells from patients with active lupus are sensitive to blockade by Dalazatide, demonstrating ex vivo efficacy of the drug, and provide data to support the design of a clinical trial in patients with lupus," Dr. Stevens added.

"Lupus patients are in urgent need of novel and more effective therapies," said Dr. Charles Magness, President and CEO of KPI Therapeutics. "We are very encouraged by the positive effect Dalazatide has demonstrated in this study and are working to advance Dalazatide into lupus and lupus nephritis clinical trials."

The updated data also demonstrated that Dalazatide can decrease a group of cytokines functioning as biomarkers associated with active lupus disease. Importantly, these results show that Dalazatide has the ability to suppress these cytokines which are associated with disease inflammation and damage to lupus patients to a degree similar to traditional but toxic therapies such as cyclosporine A.

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About Dalazatide
Dalazatide completed a Phase 1B clinical trial in plaque psoriasis. It has a novel mechanism of action (MOA). Preclinical and clinical data have shown that Dalazatide is a selective and potent blocker of the voltage-gated Kv1.3 potassium channel - a key channel in the activation of effector-memory T cells. Effector memory T cells are implicated in the pathology of many autoimmune diseases. Dalazatide was the first specific Kv1.3 inhibitor advanced into human clinical trials. Dalazatide is being studied as a potential therapy for autoimmune diseases including lupus, ANCA Vasculitis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases, and asthma. Dalazatide is being developed jointly with Kineta Inc.

About KPI Therapeutics
KPI Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotechnology company which develops first in class therapies for unmet medical needs in autoimmunity and chronic pain. KPI leads an alliance of development partners under a common purpose to drive focused and efficient drug development. KPI partners include Kineta, Inc, Chimera Biotec, Life Chemicals, MPI Research, Medical Marketing Economics, CoMotion, the University Of Washington School Of Medicine and the Alliance for Children's Therapeutics which includes Seattle Children's Research Institute. With its lead development partner Kineta, Inc, KPI is advancing the development of Dalazatide (systemic autoimmune diseases including lupus) and CSP conopeptides (chronic pain). For more information about KPI please visit our website: kpitherapeutics.com

About Kineta
Kineta, Inc. is an emerging and sustainable biotech company that fills a void in the biopharmaceutical industry by efficiently advancing therapies from discovery to clinical proof of concept. We actively collaborate with a broad array of private, government and industry partners to advance our innovative research in autoimmune diseases, antivirals and chronic pain. Kineta has established and is expanding on a diverse pipeline of novel life improving therapies that address critical unmet patient needs. For more information on Kineta, Inc. visit our website, www.kinetabio.com

NOTICE: This document contains certain forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements regarding KPI's plans for future research and development activities. You are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties inherent to KPI's business which could significantly affect expected results, including without limitation progress of drug development, ability to raise capital to fund drug development, successful completion of clinical testing, and achievement of regulatory approval. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and KPI undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the issuance of this press release.

Contact Jacques Bouchy, SVP Business Development & Corporate Communications
Kineta Inc.
Email
(206) 378-0400

SOURCE Alliance for Children’s Therapeutics (ACT)