On 23rd of January, Professor Helleday presented data on OXC-101, Oxcia’s mitotic MTH1 inhibitor, for the treatment of psoriasis. It took place at Uppsala University’s 13th symposium on drug profiling in drug discovery and development. OXC-101 is under development for cancer treatment as the main indication, but data suggest that it may also have an effect in autoimmune T-cell driven diseases such as e.g. psoriasis. Oxcia’s joint research with Karolinska Institutet and Linköping University has shown that cancer cells and activated T cells have many similarities, i.e. increased oxidative stress and increased levels of the enzyme MTH1. MTH1 is part of the body’s defense against oxidized DNA damage. Together with Professor Helleday and Professor Enerbäck’s research groups, Oxcia has shown that OXC-101 has good effects in disease models for psoriasis. Among other things, OXC-101 kills activated T cells and reduces the levels of the cytokines involved in psoriasis (Karsten et al., 2022, Bivik Edling et al 2021).
Now there are also clinical findings that confirm the interesting preclinical data. In the clinical trial with OXC-101 in advanced solid cancers, exploratory endpoints were included regarding possible effects on autoimmune comorbidities in the cancer patients. A patient with severe plaque psoriasis was shown to respond very well to OXC-101 treatment for her psoriasis. “We feel very inspired by the results and Oxcia is now continuing its exploratory research into psoriasis and other autoimmune T-cell-driven diseases.” says Oxcia’s CEO, Ulrika Warpman Berglund.
Psoriasis is a chronic systemic disease with an inflammatory disease process, which above all causes rashes and scaly skin, but which can also affect joints, the heart and vascular system and more. 2-3% of the population has psoriasis.
For more information contact:
Ulrika Warpman Berglund, CEO, Oxcia AB (publ)
Telephone: +46 (0) 73 270 9605
ulrika.warpmanberglund@oxcia.com
About Oxcia’s technology platform, O2-DDR
Oxcia’s proprietary technology platform, O2-DDR (short for oxidative stress, oxidative DNA damage and DNA damage response (DDR)) exploits these phenomena for new innovative treatments for cancer and inflammation and fibrosis-related diseases. The most advanced projects are OXC-101 with an ongoing phase I/II study in AML (acute myeloid leukemia) and OXC-201 which is in preclinical development for IPF (pulmonary fibrosis). The psoriasis project is one of the exploratory programs. The technology platform forms the basis for Oxcia’s continued research, with the ambition to significantly extend and improve the lives of patients affected by cancer and inflammatory diseases.