Sylentis Receives Authorization to Commence a New Phase I/II Clinical Trial with SYL040012 for Treating Elevated Intraocular Pressure and Glaucoma

- SYL040012 is a new compound arising from Sylentis' research in ophthalmological disorders.

- It is indicated for treating ocular hypertension and preventing glaucoma.

- SYL040012 is a form of interference RNA (RNAi).

- It reduces intraocular pressure by inhibiting the expression of β-adrenergic receptors.

MADRID, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Sylentis, a biopharmaceutical subsidiary of Grupo Zeltia (MC: ZEL) and a pioneer in the research and development of new drugs based on gene silencing (interference RNA, RNAi), has received authorization from the Spanish Medicines and Health Products Agency to commence a second Phase I/II clinical trial with SYL040012 for treating ocular hypertension.

The goal of the Phase I/II trial is to establish the tolerance and effect of SYL040012 on intraocular pressure in patients with ocular hypertension. This is the second clinical trial with SYL040012; Sylentis is the first company to perform a clinical trial in Spain based on RNAi.

The Phase I/II trial with SYL040012 will be performed at the Navarra University Clinic and the Ramon y Cajal University Hospital in Madrid on patients with intraocular pressure of 21 mm Hg or greater.

After assessing the very favorable results obtained in Phase I, which established the safety of SYL040012 in healthy volunteers, Sylentis is continuing with development of the compound. The participants in the new trial, who have ocular hypertension (> 21 mm Hg), will be carefully monitored to ensure their safety.

About SYL040012

SYL040012 is a specific RNAi which targets the Beta-2 adrenergic receptor. It has proven effective in diminishing intraocular pressure in animal models in vivo and also in preventing glaucoma, and was found to be superior to the drugs used in the control branch of the trial.

About Sylentis

Founded in 2006 as a spin-off from Grupo Zeltia subsidiary Genomica, S.A.U., Sylentis is a subsidiary of Grupo Zeltia and a pioneer in Spain in the search for new therapies based on interference RNA (RNAi). The company aims to design effective short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) using bioinformatic programs such as SIRFINDER(R), which optimizes the design of siRNAs with pharmacological potential.

Sylentis initially focused on developing therapies to treat glaucoma/ocular hypertension, conditions which are addressed by the company's most advanced compounds at present. It also has other research lines whose compounds are in the R&D and preclinical phases.

About Interference RNA (RNAi)

RNAi has arisen in recent years as a promising technology with therapeutic applications that received worldwide recognition when its discoverers, Fire and Mello, were awarded the Nobel Prize in 2006. Discovered in plants in the 1990s, RNAi consists of highly efficient selective and specific inhibition of gene expression. RNAi is mediated by small fragments of double-stranded RNA, consisting of 19-23 nucleotides, which promote degradation of messenger RNA (mRNA), thus inhibiting synthesis of the proteins for which they code and which are responsible for the pathology. RNAi therapy has great potential as this mechanism is used naturally by cells to regulate gene expression in a way that is both non-toxic and highly effective.

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SOURCE Sylentis