Anti-inflammation drugs - preclinical and phase 1/2

[rainer]

Both of these could benefit MS down the line.

Modulation of RNA Splicing Focuses on Inflammatory Diseases, Including Rheumatoid Arthritis

In this study, treatment with LNA oligonucleotides, developed by Santaris, induced alternative RNA splicing of TNF receptor 2, resulting in a switch from the membrane-bound to a soluble protein form, thus creating a "decoy" receptor, which accumulated in the circulation of treated mice. The generated soluble TNF receptor protein antagonized TNF-alpha, interfered with its inflammatory function, and reduced severity of inflammatory disease in mouse models of hepatitis and arthritis. This is the first report of upregulation of the endogenous, circulating TNF-alpha antagonist by oligonucleotide-induced modulation of splicing.

Presentation of Phase 1 Clinical Data of MDX-1100

MDX-1100 is a fully human antibody that targets CXCL10 (also known as
IP-10), a chemokine expressed in association with multiple inflammatory
disease indications such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel
disease and multiple sclerosis.