Discovery
Our research efforts are focused on developing new therapies for respiratory diseases. Our strategy requires the recruitment of high quality dedicated scientists and building a centre of excellence capable of delivering clinical candidates for development.
In addition, we forge alliances with academic and institutional laboratories throughout the world to assist in our endeavours. The products of our research are wholly owned by the company.
Our most advanced new drug candidate, PXS25, is being developed to treat inflammatory lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The safety testing is finished and PXS25 will be ready for its first clinical investigational study in humans after the development of a sensitive assay to detect PXS25 in humans is complete. The Phase I clinical study will be conducted in Australia and will focus on safety and the pharmacokinetic profile of PXS25.
In another research project, our drug discovery team has now designed a large library of small molecules that inhibit a critical protein that is implicated in the inflammatory response and organ damage associated with chronic immune diseases such as asthma and diabetes. We have selected a development candidate PXS4159 and have begun the scale up manufacture and pre-clinical safety studies necessary prior to evaluating the compound in human studies. In parallel, we continue basic research to explore its other potential clinical uses.
2008/9 Outlook for PXS25
- Complete Phase I trial
- Prepare for Phase II trials
2008/9 Outlook for PXS4159
- Commence pre-clinical safety studies
- Prepare for Phase I trial
Pharmaxis Product Development
Strategic alliances with leading Australian research groups
Australia is fortunate to have internationally renowned biology research teams in areas of basic biology related to asthma, cancer, diabetes and viral infection, as well as the emerging technology of structural biology.
Structural biology is a powerful alternative to traditional screening methods for identifying leads for drug discovery. The technology bombards protein crystals with x-ray beams to determine the three-dimensional structure of proteins. These extremely precise images of the site in a protein where drugs can bind help chemists design their new compounds with some confidence before actual synthesis. This is expected to significantly reduce the time currently taken to bring new therapies to patients.
Capitalising on the promise of this emerging field, Pharmaxis has entered into two collaborations with structural biology groups in Sydney and Melbourne.
University of Sydney: We were awarded funding from the Australian government to undertake a three-year study to crystallise and determine the three-dimensional structure of human SSAO/VAP-1 bound to inhibitors of the enzyme. This information can be used to guide drug discovery projects aimed at inhibiting this protein.
CSIRO Molecular and Health Technologies, Melbourne: Pharmaxis and CSIRO have entered into the first phase of an agreement to determine the three-dimensional structures of a large number of proteins involved in the inflammatory process. Proteins will be studied to determine which ones offer the best prospect for crystallisation and, of these, which ones will be best suited for a lead discovery and optimisation campaign. CSIRO and Pharmaxis will determine whether to move to a second drug discovery agreement after receiving the first phase results.
