Science

Overview

Abivax’s technology is based on cutting-edge science driven by the goal of developing therapeutics that stimulate the body’s natural immune mechanisms to cure diseases. Our proprietary library of small molecule candidates is stringently analyzed by our R&D team to select and develop agents optimally suited for this therapeutic approach.

Abivax is focused on developing therapies to effectively treat inflammatory and viral diseases as well as cancer.

Abivax has two programs in clinical development with obefazimod to treat ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis; another program in Crohn’s disease is also in preparation. Furthermore, ABX196 is being tested in a clinical study to treat patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Obefazimod IBD

Obefazimod RA

ABX196 HCC

Obefazimod for inflammatory bowel diseases and other inflammatory diseases

Abivax developed obefazimod from the company’s chemical library of over 2,200 small molecules that have the potential to modulate RNA splicing. The resulting effects of obefazimod's RNA splicing constitute a potent anti-inflammatory action.

Abivax is utilizing anti-inflammatory properties of obefazimod to target inflammation in clinical trials. The discovery of obefazimod’s anti-inflammatory properties prompted the initiation of studies which position obefazimod as a drug candidate with the potential to treat ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and other inflammatory diseases.

How does obefazimod address inflammation?

The anti-inflammatory effect of obefazimod is triggered by the molecule binding to its target, the cap binding complex (CBC), located on the 5' end of every cellular non-coding RNA molecule. This binding results in the splicing of a long, non-coding RNA, that induces the overexpression of a single micro-RNA product, miR-124. miR-124 initiates a cascade which is believed to propagate the anti-inflammatory effect that has been observed in preclinical models.

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Obefazimod Mechanism of Action in Ulcerative Colitis

IBD – a chronic disease with no cure

Inflammatory bowel disease broadly describes conditions characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. The two major types of IBD are ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). While CD can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, UC only affects the colon and causes inflammation that can lead to rectal bleeding, bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and severe pain. Obefazimod is being studied in UC, the exact cause of which remains unknown. However, a dysregulated immune system and genetic influence are possible causes. UC can be debilitating and can lead to life-threatening complications. Although treatment for UC has improved significantly in recent years, there is still no cure, and patients often become resistant to current treatments, demonstrating a substantial unmet need. To learn more about UC and IBD, go to:

CDC Website

Obefazimod for rheumatoid arthritis

Abivax developed obefazimod from the company’s chemical library of over 2,200 small molecules that have the potential to modulate RNA splicing. The resulting effects of obefazimod's RNA splicing constitute a potent anti-inflammatory action.

How does obefazimod address inflammation?

The anti-inflammatory effect of obefazimod is triggered by the molecule binding to its target, the cap binding complex (CBC), located on the 5' end of every cellular non-coding RNA molecule. This binding results in the splicing of a long, non-coding RNA, that induces the overexpression of a single micro-RNA product, miR-124. miR-124 initiates a cascade which is believed to propagate the anti-inflammatory effect that has been observed in preclinical models.

ABX196 for cancer

Abivax is developing ABX196, an immune enhancer for the combination treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a check point inhibitor. HCC is the most common type of primary liver cancer. The company’s technology focuses on invariant natural killer T-cells (iNKT) to fight tumors.

Harnessing the immune system to treat cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form (75-90%) of primary liver cancer in adults. It typically occurs in the setting of chronic liver inflammation and/or cirrhosis, and is closely linked to chronic viral infection such as hepatitis B or C, exposure to toxins such as alcohol, and to certain diseases such as non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis (NASH). The incidence of, and deaths related to HCC, are increasing in the United States and globally due to hepatitis B and C virus infections, as well as NASH. Prevalence data from 2018 show a total of 79,000 cases of HCC in the U.S. and G5 Europe (Germany, France, Italy, Spain and UK), with 67,000 new cases. Globally, there were 841,000 new cases of liver cancer (ranked 6th of all reported cancers) and 782,000 fatalities (ranked 4th) in 2018. Currently, the American Cancer Society reports five-year survival rates in the U.S. of 31% for localized HCC, 11% for regional and 2% for distant or metastatic, indicating a clear unmet medical need for improved therapies for HCC. Pharmaceutical sales in HCC (U.S., G5 Europe and Japan) were USD 616 M in 2018, up 20% from 2017 (USD 513 M).

Source: GlobalData

To learn more about cancer go to:

CDC Website