Galapagos receives ?2.4 million IWT grant for psoriasis research
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
Mechelen, Belgium; 8 July 2013 - Galapagos NV (Euronext: GLPG) announced today
that it has been awarded a ?2.4 million TGO (transformational medical research)
grant from the Flemish agency for Innovation by Science and Technology (IWT) for
psoriasis research and development. The goal of this 4-year project is to bring
a novel mode of action compound into the clinic that might lead to a safe and
effective treatment for patients suffering from psoriasis.
Psoriasis is a common skin disease with a high impact on well-being and for
which options for patient are currently limited. Psoriasis is a chronic
disease, affecting approximately 3% of the population. It has no final cure and
therefore represents a high burden to quality of life.
Galapagos has discovered a compound series which presents a novel mode of action
in psoriasis. This 4-year IWT funded research program will explore the
potential application of this compound series in disease models for psoriasis,
both in preclinical systems as well as in a clinical setting. After the
discovery phase, Galapagos will initiate clinical trials with this innovative,
oral compound for psoriasis by using an adaptive trial design, with the aim of
achieving an efficiency gain in development costs and timelines. In the clinic,
pharmacodynamic assessments will be evaluated in healthy volunteers by mimicking
inflammation characteristics in a Proof-of-Mechanism study. Galapagos will
collaborate in this project with Professor Dr Jo Lambert at Ghent University.
"We are very pleased with this IWT grant, which really underscores how IWT
supports innovation by biotechnology companies. This grant makes it possible to
work towards a novel therapy which will hopefully improve the quality of life of
psoriasis patients," said Piet Wigerinck, CSO of Galapagos. "Together with
GSK2586184, inlicensed by GlaxoSmithKline in 2012, we expect to have two drugs
in development for psoriasis within two years."
About Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease that affects the skin. It is caused by
the immune system being mistakenly triggered, resulting in overproduction of new
skin cells. The cause is not fully understood, but it is believed to have a
genetic component and certain medications and infections are well-known risk
factors. Psoriasis affects approximately 3% of people globally and it can occur
at any age, although it most commonly appears for the first time between the
ages of 15 and 25 years. There are five types of psoriasis with the most common
form being plaque psoriasis, characterized by red patches covered by a silvery
white scale appearing on the top first layer of the skin. Psoriasis can also
cause inflammation of the joints, which is known as psoriatic arthritis,
affecting between 10-30% of all people with psoriasis. Psoriasis is typically a
lifelong condition and there is currently no cure, but various treatments can
help to control the symptoms. Treating moderate to severe psoriasis usually
involves a combination of treatment strategies: topical treatments, light
therapy and/or systemic medications, including biologic drugs.
About IWT
The agency for Innovation by Science and Technology (abbreviated as IWT) is the
government agency founded in 1991 by the Flemish Government to support
technological innovation projects in Flanders. Each year IWT distributes about
EUR 300 million in subsidies for innovation projects to companies,
organizations, research and educational institutions in Flanders. In addition
to financial support, IWT also assists companies by, for instance helping them
find the right information or the right partners at home or abroad, providing
assistance with the preparation of projects for European programmes and with
technology transfer throughout Europe. IWT also has an important coordination
mandate aimed at promoting close cooperation among all the actors involved in
technological innovation in Flanders. IWT Monitoring&Analysis, M&A for short,
monitors innovation and regularly publishes studies. For more information,
please visit http://www.iwt.be or call +32 2 209 09 00.
About Galapagos
Galapagos (Euronext: GLPG; OTC: GLPYY) is specialized in novel modes-of-action,
with a large pipeline of five clinical, six pre-clinical, and 30 discovery
small-molecule and antibody programs in cystic fibrosis, inflammation,
antibiotics, metabolic disease, and other indications.
GLPG0634 is an orally-available, selective inhibitor of JAK1 for the treatment
of rheumatoid arthritis and potentially other inflammatory diseases, currently
in Phase 2B studies in RA and about to enter Phase 2 studies in Crohn's
disease. AbbVie and Galapagos signed a worldwide license agreement whereby
AbbVie will be responsible for further development and commercialization after
Phase 2B. Galapagos has another selective JAK1 inhibitor in Phase 2 in lupus
and psoriasis, GSK2586184 (formerly GLPG0778, in-licensed by GlaxoSmithKline in
2012). GLPG0187 is a novel integrin receptor antagonist currently in a Phase
1B patient study in metastasis. GLPG0974 is the first inhibitor of FFA2 to be
evaluated clinically for the treatment of IBD; this program is currently in a
Proof of Concept Phase 2 study. GLPG1205 is a first-in-class molecule that
targets inflammatory disorders and is currently in a First-in-Human Phase 1
study.
The Galapagos Group, including fee-for-service companies BioFocus, Argenta and
Fidelta, has 800 employees and operates facilities in five countries, with
global headquarters in Mechelen, Belgium. Further information at: www.glpg.com
Contact
Galapagos NV
Dr Piet Wigerinck, Chief Scientific Officer
Tel. +32 477 627103
Elizabeth Goodwin, Director Investor Relations
Tel: +31 6 2291 6240
ir(at)glpg.com
Galapagos forward-looking statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements, including, without
limitation, statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates,"
"expects," "intends," "plans," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "could,"
"stands to," and "continues," as well as similar expressions. Such forward-
looking statements may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors which might cause the actual results, financial condition, performance
or achievements of Galapagos, or industry results, to be materially different
from any historic or future results, financial conditions, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given
these uncertainties, the reader is advised not to place any undue reliance on
such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as
of the date of publication of this document. Galapagos expressly disclaims any
obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this document to
reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in
events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, unless
required by law or regulation.
Galapagos receives ?2.4 million IWT grant for psoriasis research:
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[HUG#1714719]
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 08.07.2013 - 07:31 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 276054
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contact information:
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Business News
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