MEDIA RELEASE PR35527
Quark Pharmaceuticals Announces Data Indicating Potential Utility of QPI-
1007 for Treatment of Glaucoma
FREMONT, Calif., July 28 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a development-stage pharmaceutical company
discovering and developing novel RNA interference (RNAi)-based
therapeutics, today announced data suggesting that QPI-1007 prevents
progressive retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss in an increased ocular
pressure (IOP) rat model of glaucoma. The experiments performed by Prof.
Adriana Di Polo of the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Universite
de Montreal, indicate that QPI-1007 has the potential to treat patients
with glaucoma. QPI-1007 is being evaluated in advanced IND-enabling
preclinical studies as a neuroprotective agent for eye diseases.
QPI-1007 is Quark's first proprietary siRNA drug candidate developed in
collaboration with BioSpring GmbH, with its own intellectual property that
gives Quark freedom to operate in the siRNA IP space. Previously announced
studies have demonstrated a robust neuroprotective effect of QPI-1007 in
two additional models of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death - induced by
optic nerve crush or axotomy. In those studies, QPI-1007 was administered
immediately after the optic nerve injury. In the current IOP study, QPI-
1007 was administered 2 weeks after disease induction when more than 25% of
RGCs have already been lost. Whereas RGC loss progressed in the control
eyes, loss of RGCs was completely blocked in the QPI-1007-treated eyes
Dr. Daniel Zurr, Quark's Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Quark is
pleased to announce additional data supporting the therapeutic potential of
QPI-1007 -- the first siRNA drug candidate based on our own IP -- as well
as our proven ability to advance siRNA products from discovery to the
clinic. Our leadership position within the RNAi field is set to continue
with the upcoming IND filing for QPI-1007 to support initial clinical
studies in non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Quark has the
largest portfolio of clinical-stage siRNAs and all of our pipeline
candidates have exhibited optimal activity and stability while attenuating
potential off-target effects."
Prof. Di Polo commented, "In patients with glaucoma, characteristic
visual field changes and vision loss are caused by the death of retinal
ganglion cells. While existing therapeutics are capable of reducing IOP,
none act as selective neuroprotective agents. We are encouraged by the QPI-
1007 data, which suggest a neuroprotective effect on retinal ganglion cells
in experimental glaucoma, presenting a major breakthrough in novel
treatments for this neurodegenerative disease."
About Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a development-stage pharmaceutical
company engaged in discovering and developing novel RNAi-based
therapeutics. Quark has a fully integrated drug development platform that
spans therapeutic target identification to drug development. Quark's RNAi
technology includes novel siRNA structures and chemistry providing Quark
with freedom to operate in the siRNA intellectual property arena, as well
as the ability for non-invasive delivery of siRNA to other target tissues
including the eye, ear, lung, spinal cord and brain.
PF-4523655 (RTP801i-14), currently in Phase II clinical trials, is a
synthetic, chemically modified siRNA designed to inhibit the expression of
the gene RTP801 discovered by Quark through the gene discovery platform
BiFAR. PF-4523655 is licensed to Pfizer. In addition, Quark's current
clinical pipeline includes QPI-1002, the first systemically administered
siRNA drug in human clinical trials, developed by Quark for the prevention
of acute kidney injury (AKI) following major cardiovascular surgery and the
prophylaxis of delayed graft function after kidney transplantation
Quark has a broad pipeline of siRNA drug candidates based on novel
structures developed internally and is utilizing the chemistry to develop
additional RNAi drug candidates. QPI-1007 is the most advanced and the
first expected to enter clinical trials.
Quark is headquartered in Fremont, California and operates research and
development facilities in Boulder, Colorado and Ness-Ziona, Israel.
Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The Ruth Group (investors / media)
Juliana Friedman Sara Ephraim / Janine McCargo
+972 89 30 5111 (646) 536-7004 / 7033
jfriedman@quarkpharma.com sephraim@theruthgroup.com
jmccargo@theruthgroup.com
SOURCE: Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
CONTACT: Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
Juliana Friedman,
+972-89-30-5111,
jfriedman@quarkpharma.com;
or The Ruth Group,
investors,
Sara Ephraim,
+1-646-536-7004,
sephraim@theruthgroup.com,
or media,
Janine McCargo,
+1-646-536-7033,
jmccargo@theruthgroup.com
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