Melbourne, Australia 16 September 2024: Certa Therapeutics (Certa), a biotechnology company developing innovative precision therapies for patients with fibrotic diseases, today announces that its lead candidate FT011 has been granted the International Non-Proprietary Name (INN) of ‘asengeprast’ by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Commonly known as a generic name, an INN is a globally recognised, unique name for a pharmaceutical substance or active ingredient.
Certa has pioneered drug development targeting GPR68, an important but previously undrugged membrane GPCR receptor, showing it to be a master switch of fibrosis.
Asengeprast is a novel, first-in-class oral GPR68 antagonist being developed for the treatment of chronic fibrosis in multiple organs. An extensive body of data demonstrates promising efficacy in multiple in vitro and in vivo models of inflammatory and fibrotic disease. Phase I and IIa clinical studies in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) have already demonstrated favourable efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics.
SSc is a chronic, progressive, and potentially life-threatening autoimmune disease characterised by inflammation and fibrosis (scar tissue formation) in the skin and in various internal organs – commonly lungs, kidneys and heart. Skin fibrosis is the distinguishing feature of SSc and is associated with significantly reduced function and disability in patients. Currently, there are no treatments on the market that effectively stop or reverse scarring in the skin and organs.
Professor Darren Kelly Certa Therapeutics CEO and founder said, “The granting of an INN for our lead drug candidate asengeprast is another important step in its development of this important therapy and follows the granting of EU and US Orphan Drug status and an FDA Fast Track Designation. We are continuing to drive the clinical development of asengeprast and believe it has the potential to address a critical need for people living with SSC, a debilitating condition with the highest mortality amongst rheumatic diseases.”
Certa is planning for a Phase IIb confirmatory SSc clinical trial with asengeprast, bringing the company closer to providing better treatment options for patients with fibrosis. It is also developing biomarkers and gene signatures to identify patients most likely to respond to treatment to ensure the best outcomes for those with fibrosis.
Certa has a portfolio of GPR68 inhibitors designed to target other organs being developed for the treatment of a number of fibrosis driven kidney diseases.
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Media – Australia
Kirrily Davis, E: kdavis@bcpvc.com M: +61 (0)401 220228
Media – International
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About Certa Therapeutics
Certa Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on improving lives by treating patients with debilitating diseases via novel targeted therapies.
Certa Therapeutics has designed a platform of candidate drugs and validated the role of GPR68, a defined G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) receptor which mediates signalling pathways associated with inflammation and fibrosis. GPR68 is silent in healthy tissue but activated following injury or disease. Evidence demonstrates the role of GPR68 on multiple downstream pathways causing inflammation and fibrosis. These targeted drug candidates have established proof of concept as potential treatments for multiple fibrotic diseases including serious and chronic conditions impacting the kidney, lung, eye, skin, and heart. The morbidity and mortality impact of fibrotic diseases is substantial, ultimately causing 45% of all deaths globally. Significant breakthroughs are urgently needed in this field, addressing a market worth more than US$15B annually. The company is seeking to combine its innovative therapeutics with biomarkers and genetic analysis to identify those patients most likely to benefit from treatment, providing potential for a precision therapy.
Asengeprast (FT011) is an investigational product which has not received marketing authorisation or approval by any regulatory agency, including the US Food and Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency, or the Australian Therapeutic Goods Agency. The investigational drug products being developed by Certa Therapeutics are undergoing clinical studies to evaluate the safety and effectiveness in humans. In the company’s lead program, asengeorast is being developed as a novel, first-in-class oral therapy for the treatment of systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) and has successfully completed a multi-national, double-blinded randomised controlled trial. In addition to being granted EMA Orphan Drug Designation, asengeprast has been awarded Orphan Drug Designation and Fast Track Designation from the FDA.
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