Inotek Commences Phase 1 Trial In Glaucoma With Selective Adenosine 1 (A1) Agonist

Main Category: Eye Health / Blindness
Also Included In: Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 20 Jun 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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Inotek Pharmaceuticals Corporation announced that it has begun enrollment in a Phase 1 clinical trial with the Company's selective Adenosine 1 agonist, INO-8875, for the treatment of glaucoma. In March, Inotek received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to advance INO-8875 into clinical trials. The initial study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and the potential of INO-8875 to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma patients. Glaucoma patients typically have elevated levels of IOP which can damage the optic nerve of the eye and lead to partial or complete loss of vision.

"We are pleased that our clinical program in glaucoma is progressing and I am encouraged by the strength of our preclinical data supporting the potential role of Adenosine 1 receptor agonists in managing intraocular pressure," said Dr. Rudolf Baumgartner, Inotek's Chief Medical Officer. "New mechanisms for lowering IOP are needed to provide physicians with alternatives for the treatment of this chronic and progressive ocular disease - especially given the expanding population of glaucoma patients. Highly selective Adenosine 1 receptor agonists, such as ours, may provide a meaningful new approach for the management of glaucoma."

Inotek has several other promising drugs in preclinical development targeting various ophthalmology indications including such underserved diseases as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and uveitis.

Additionally, Inotek has several non-ophthalmology programs in development including, 1) a second clinical stage compound, INO-4885, currently in Phase 1 clinical safety trials which is being developed as a treatment for contrast induced nephropathy, 2) a monoclonal antibody program in preclinical development, targeting the flagellin/TLR5 pathway which is associated with inflammatory bowel disease and 3) a preclinical PARP inhibitor program in development for oncology.

About Inotek Pharmaceuticals

Inotek is a clinical-stage, drug development company located in Massachusetts with two clinical stage programs, targeting applications in glaucoma and contrast induced nephropathy. The Company's preclinical programs include products in development for various other ophthalmology indications spanning multiple different therapeutic mechanisms believed to play a role in ocular disease progression. Inotek also has preclinical programs targeting PARP and flagellin with applications in cancer and inflammatory bowel disease.

Inotek Pharmaceuticals Corporation

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