Omeros reveals encouraging data for phase 1 of PDE10 Program

Omeros has announced encouraged new data from its Phase 1 Clinical Trial for OMS824, the lead compound in the company's phosphodiesterase 10 program.

OMS824 selectively inhibits PDE10, which is an enzyme expressed in areas of the brain linked to a variety of diseases that affect cognition, including schizophrenia and Huntington's disease.

During the pharma research, OMS824 was well tolerated and showed linear pharmacokinetics and good systemic exposure, resulting in the expected pharmalogical impact on healthy subjects.

Following the work, Omeros has opted to continue studies into the next stage of the Phase 1 clinical trial, with the company expecting finished data to be available in early 2013.

OMS824 helps to inhibit PDE10, which is being developed as a treatment for a number of disorders, including schizophrenia.

Gregory A. Demopulos, chairman and chief executive officer of Omeros, said: "OMS824 appears to have excellent pharmaceutical properties, and we look forward to completing this Phase 1 clinical trial and starting studies in schizophrenia patients.

"While preparing for the next set of OMS824 studies, our pipeline continues to advance toward additional near-term milestones - Phase 3 data for OMS103HP this month, an NDA submission next quarter and, for as many as three additional programs, entry into the clinic in 2013."

Last month, Omeros announced that it had demonstrated how GPR17 targeting compounds can be used to promote differentiation of the cells that form myelin in the body's central nervous system.

Myelin is vital to ensure the proper functioning of the system, while demyelination is associated with a number of disorders, including multiple sclerosis, strokes and Alzheimer's disease.

By using its high-throughput Cellular Redistribution Assay, Omeros believes it has found compounds to interact with GPR17, an orphan G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR).

Commenting on the news, Mr Demopulos noted that GPR17 represents one of Omeros' unlocked GPCRs that it is advancing through medical history.

He believes proprietary drugs could now be made to restore functions in patients suffering from severe neural disorders.

Posted by Ben Evans