ChemoCentryx Initiates Phase I Clinical Trial of CCX832, the First Small Molecule Inhibitor of ChemR23

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- ChemoCentryx, Inc., today announced the initiation of a Phase I clinical trial of CCX832, an orally-administered small molecule that is a potent and selective inhibitor of the chemoattractant receptor, ChemR23.  This receptor is known to regulate inflammatory cells in disease such as psoriasis. CCX832 is the fourth and final drug candidate discovered and developed by ChemoCentryx under the Company's alliance with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to identify molecules targeting four specific chemokine and chemoattractant receptors.  The initiation of this Phase I clinical trial triggered a $10 million milestone payment from GSK.

"With the successful conclusion of the discovery phase of our GSK alliance, we are intensifying and expanding our efforts in our other ongoing programs that are entirely outside the GSK alliance," said Thomas J. Schall, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of ChemoCentryx.  "These programs include a novel drug targeting the chemokine receptor CCR2, which has just successfully completed a Phase 2 clinical trial and a cancer program targeting the receptor CXCR7, which was discovered by ChemoCentryx scientists. In addition, we are advancing programs in liver and kidney disease and in the next generation of medicines for inflammatory bowel disease, all of which offer vast opportunities in largely unmet medical needs."

About ChemR23/CCX832

The ligand for ChemR23, chemerin, is a widely expressed protein that circulates in human plasma in an inactive state and becomes biologically activated in inflammatory settings. There is building evidence that suggests chemerin may serve as a biological alarm signal that, under conditions of tissue injury, recruits ChemR23-expressing immune cells. Diseases such as psoriasis are also associated with elevated levels of activated chemerin. In preclinical studies, CCX832 has demonstrated the ability to successfully block ChemR23 and interrupt the early steps associated with the development of psoriatic dermal inflammation and other inflammatory diseases.

About ChemoCentryx

ChemoCentryx, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing orally-administered therapeutics that target the chemokine and chemoattractant systems in order to treat autoimmune diseases, inflammatory disorders and cancer. The chemokine system is a biological network that regulates inflammation via a collection of secreted chemokine molecules, or ligands, and their specific cell surface receptors. Based on its proprietary drug discovery and drug development platform, ChemoCentryx has generated multiple clinical and preclinical-stage programs, each targeting distinct chemokine and chemoattractant receptors with different small molecule compounds. ChemoCentryx's lead compound, Traficet-EN (now designated GSK1605786, also known as GSK'786), a specific CCR9 antagonist, completed a multi-national clinical trial, called PROTECT-1, in patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease, where it demonstrated the ability to induce a clinical response and to maintain clinical remission, and is now in Phase III clinical development. Other clinical programs include CCX140, which targets the CCR2 receptor, in Phase II clinical development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and associated complications; CCX354, a CCR1 antagonist in a Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; CCX168, a C5aR antagonist, that completed Phase I clinical development and is anticipated to enter Phase II clinical trials in 2011; and CCX832, a ChemR23 antagonist in a Phase I clinical trial. ChemoCentryx also has several programs in advanced preclinical development. ChemoCentryx is privately held. For more information, please refer to www.chemocentryx.com.

Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements". These statements are made on the basis of current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of our control, that may cause our business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE ChemoCentryx, Inc.