Variant Pharmaceuticals Expands Development Focus Into $60+ Billion Anti-inflammatory Market with Worldwide License to Novel Inflammasome Inhibitor

WESTON, Fla., April 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Variant Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage specialty biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class drugs for patients with high unmet medical needs, is pleased to announce a worldwide exclusive license with InflamaCORE, LLC. for its novel inflammasome inhibitor, IC 100. IC 100 targets the ASC component of multiple inflammasomes that activate the innate immune response. The license agreement gives Variant full worldwide development and commercialization rights to IC 100 and related products for treatment of inflammatory diseases, as well as a potential companion diagnostic.

"We are honored to partner with the leading experts and pioneers in inflammasome research to develop innovative therapies for the millions of people suffering from inflammatory conditions," stated Stephen C. Glover, Variant's Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer. "IC 100 complements our current renal pipeline, as it will enable expansion into inflammatory renal diseases, such as lupus nephritis and diabetic kidney disease. Likewise, it will broaden our offerings to include treatment of other autoimmune diseases with high unmet needs, such as NASH and multiple sclerosis."     

"InflamaCORE is thrilled to advance development of IC 100 under the leadership of Variant's highly experienced team," said Dr. Robert W. Keane, InflamaCORE's Founder and Professor of Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. "I have spent the last 30 years focused on understanding the innate immune response in the central nervous system, and the impact of inflammasomes on neurons after CNS injury. Our extensive preclinical research suggests that IC 100 has potential to provide significant benefit to patients with autoimmune diseases. It will be very rewarding to see this research translated into meaningful treatment options."

About IC 100

IC 100 is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits inflammasomes. Inflammasomes are molecular complexes that activate the innate immune system, the body's first line of immunological response, and regulate subsequent immune activity. Although the immune system is critical for health, dysregulation resulting in excessive and/or chronic activation of the immune system can occur, resulting in immune-related inflammatory disorders. IC 100 is being developed to treat such disorders.

Because IC 100 targets the innate immune system, it leaves other immune pathways intact to respond when needed.  It has low immunogenicity and is expected to have less potential for acquired drug resistance.

IC 100 uniquely inhibits the adaptor ASC component of multiple inflammasomes, providing potential to treat a broad group of inflammatory disorders. It inhibits both intracellular activation of the inflammatory cascade, and extracellular perpetuation of the inflammatory response for effective dampening of inflammation. For more information, visit www.variantpharma.com.

About Variant

Variant is a clinical stage specialty biopharmaceutical company leveraging advanced, proprietary technologies to develop best-in-class drugs. Our focus is on patients with inflammatory or renal diseases who have high unmet medical needs. Our clinical pipeline includes a phase 2a-ready asset, VAR 200, a cholesterol transport mediator for treatment of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), and a novel inflammasome inhibitor with potential for multiple inflammatory diseases.

SOURCE Variant Pharmaceuticals, Inc.