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.
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:
