Capstone Therapeutics Signs Alliance With BiolineRx to Develop Chrysalin (TP508) in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Capstone Therapeutics CAPS today announced a material transfer agreement with BiolineRx to develop Chrysalin (TP508) in pre-clinical models of acute myocardial infarction. The goal of these studies is to further demonstrate the potential cardiovascular benefit of TP508 in an additional large-species model, a regulatory prerequisite to advance the program through the IND process toward human clinical trials. Capstone has previously announced the cardioprotective benefit of TP508 as demonstrated in a series of landmark pre-clinical studies. These studies, performed in the laboratory of Frank W. Sellke, MD, formerly Chief, Cardiothoracic Surgical Research, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center / Harvard Medical School, showed that TP508 extensively decreases myocardial injury when administered following a major ischemic insult. (This administration timing reflects the anticipated clinical scenario of a heart attack.) Endpoints of the study included infarct size, coronary microvessel function, myocardial function and apoptotic markers. Findings showing the beneficial effects of TP508 were consistent across multiple models of AMI and attendant conditions, including normal and elevated cholesterol levels as well as diabetes. The Capstone-BiolineRx alliance consists of sequential examination of the acute and chronic effects of TP508, studying in this additional large-species model 1) the ability to reduce post-MI ischemic area at risk, and 2) the chronic impact on left ventricular function and remodeling.