Journal Highlights Desirable PK/PD Profiles of THR-687 and THR-149

Oxurion NV announced the publication of two related papers in the Journal of Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics entitled “Systemic exposure following intravitreal administration of therapeutic agents: an integrated pharmacokinetic approach.”

These papers describe the pharmacokinetic properties of THR-149 and THR-687 following intravitreal (IVT) injection in animals and utilize novel pharmacokinetic models developed by Oxurion to accurately assess the systemic levels of these exciting novel drug candidates, which are both in clinical development for diabetic macular edema (DME).

THR-149 is a plasma kallikrein inhibitor being developed as a potential new standard of care for the 40-50% of DME patients showing suboptimal response to anti-VEGF therapy. With that, THR-149 holds potential to grow the existing $4.5B DME market.

THR-687 is a pan-RGD integrin antagonist initially being developed as a potential first line therapy for treatment of DME patients. In addition, Oxurion believes that THR-687 could deliver improved clinical outcomes to the large number of patients with wet age macular degeneration (AMD) and retinal vein occlusion (RVO) which together with DME represents a >$12B market opportunity.

IVT injection remains the preferred route of administration for pharmacological agents intended for the treatment of back of the eye diseases such as diabetic macular edema (DME) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD).  The procedure enables drugs to be delivered locally at high concentrations whilst limiting systemic exposure and associated risk of systemic adverse events.

Intravitreally-delivered drugs do, however, enter the general circulation and achieving an accurate understanding of systemic exposure as enabled by these new pharmacokinetic models is pivotal for the evaluation and development of drugs administered in the eye.