Dipeptidyl peptidase I inhibitors

for treatment of inflammatory diseases
 
The results of more than 15 years of R&D, performed by Unizyme Laboratories A/S, into the structure of the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase I (DPPI; cathepsin C) and inhibitors to DPPI, is legally placed in the spin-out Prozymex Pharmaceuticals A/S.

Prozymex has recently received acceptance of a patent application for one group of specific  DPPI inhibitors and for the crystal structure of DPPI and its use in discovery of DPPI inhibitors. In addition Prozymex have a patent application on other inhibitors that selectively inhibits DPPI and have gained unique knowledge regarding design of novel DPPI inhibitors.
 

The role of DPPI in a number of inflammatory diseases has been directly examined in DPPI knock-out mice and in human cells using DPPI inhibitors and the results support our theory that inhibitors to DPPI can be developed into drugs for the treatment of a number of these economically important diseases.

 

A growing amount of scientific data points to the role of proteases in the regulation of vital functions. In many important diseases at least part of the pathogenesis is caused by increased protease activity. For disease conditions such as

• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Asthma
• Sepsis
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency

- several studies points to proteases, - activated by DPPI -, to be the cause of the disease. Thus, inhibiting DPPI is a sound approach to the treatment of these economic important diseases - each disease with a market or market potential of no less than $ 1 billion and each disease with an existing medical need.

 



Prozymex welcomes partners who will participate in the continued development towards first dose in man studies. Contact: Mikkel Dührkop.