Omeros Corp. (OMER) Friday announced positive results from its Phase 1 clinical program evaluating OMS824, the lead compound from its phosphodiesterase 10 or PDE10 program. OMS824 is a proprietary compound that selectively inhibits PDE10, an enzyme that is expressed in areas of the brain linked to diseases that affect cognition and psychomotor functions, especially in patients with Huntington's disease and schizophrenia.
The early stage study measured the extent to which OMS824 binds to PDE10 in the basal ganglia, a region of the brain that has been linked to a wide range of diseases that affect cognition.
The results demonstrate that the selected dose of OMS824 achieved approximately 50 percent occupancy of PDE10 without triggering the extrapyramidal symptoms, loss of muscle control, muscle rigidity, tremors or involuntary muscle movements, reported as side effects with other PDE10 inhibitors that achieved similar or significantly lower occupancy levels. It said the difference suggests that OMS824 has a better clinical therapeutic index or 'safety factor' than other PDE10 inhibitors in development. Mild somnolence was the only apparent adverse effect, added the firm.
Commenting on the development, Gregory Demopulos, CEO of Omeros said, "To our knowledge, this is the first time that a PDE10 inhibitor has demonstrated this level of enzyme occupancy without associated extrapyramidal symptoms, a side effect commonly seen with antipsychotic drugs. These results could translate into a significant competitive advantage across a wide range of CNS indications."
The firm said it plans to advance into Phase 2 clinical trials in Huntington's disease and schizophrenia later this year.
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