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Meyer Pharmaceuticals has recently in-licensed and joined in the development of intra-articular therapy products for treating inflammatory flare-ups in rheumatoid arthritis. The idea is to inhibit accumulation of inflammatory cells in joints by promoting apoptosis (programmed cell death) of the disease-causing cells.
Apoptosis Model for Treating Inflammation
This technology is based on the discovery that within the synovial space of severe chronic rheumatoid arthritis patients is an accumulation of cells that promote tissue damage. The synoviocytes (bearing many of the hallmarks of transformed cells) play a role in bony erosion, and are resistant to the natural process of apoptosis. The strategy behind the current initiative is to restore or promote the apoptosis pathway in cells in inflamed joints, thereby causing programmed cell death. This is done by administering a pro-apoptotic agent to the intra-articular space, in the same manner that corticosteroids are currently administered as a non-specific anti-inflammation therapy.
The Company’s lead apoptosis candidate is currently in pre-clinical testing, preparing for a clinical trial in human patents in 2008.
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