Bridge Biotherapeutics, a clinical stage biotech company headquartered in Seongnam South Korea, presented the results of the preclinical study on 'BBT-877', an investigational drug candidate for IPF (Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis) treatment, at the IPF Summit 2018 held in San Francisco, California.
According to PRNewswire press release, BBT-877 was discovered by LegoChem Biosciences, publicly traded Korean biotech and licensed to Bridge Biotherapeutics for the worldwide exclusive right for further development. BBT-877 targets Autotaxin (ATX), which has emerged as a promising target for various diseases such as fibrosis and cancers.
GLPG1690, an ATX inhibitor being developed by Galapagos has been approved to proceed to phase 3 clinical trial bypassing phase 2b study in the U.S. after showing promising results of phase 2a performed with 23 IPF patients.
Bridge Biotherapeutics presented the results of BBT-877 preclinical study at the poster session of the IPF Summit 2018, which demonstrated strong efficacy in the bleomycin-induced mouse model. The study indicates that BBT-877 has effectively reduced lung fibrosis as presented by reduction of Ashcroft scores and the deposition of collagen (staining), compared to the other drugs. The data implies a high potential of BBT-877 to be the 'best-in-class' drug for IPF treatments.
Bridge Biotherapeutics now plans to submit a US IND of BBT-877 by the end of this year.
"It is a great opportunity for Bridge Biotherapeutics to present the outstanding preclinical study results on BBT-877 at the IPF Summit 2018. Bridge Biotherapeutics aims to develop BBT-877 as the best-in-class drug for IPF as fast as possible to bring this investigational compound to patients as new treatment option," said James Lee, CEO of Bridge Biotherapeutics.
Bridge Biotherapeutics is developing BBT-401, the first anti-Pellino-1 compound in Phase I in US for the treatment of ulcerative colitis and aims to initiate the international multi-site FIP (first-in-patient) study by year end. BBT-401 was discovered by SKKU (Sungkyunkwan University) and KRICT (Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology) and was licensed the exclusive worldwide right to Bridge Biotherapeutics in 2015.
