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Treatment of sepsis includes early intravenous antibiotics and supportive resuscitation but there are currently no approved, effective drugs to treat sepsis. Cyon Therapeutics hopes to address this issue.

The team behind Cyon, Drs. John Boyd, Keith Walley and Jim Russell and Mr. Paul Drohan, have identified a previously approved compound that is able to promote the ‘pulling’ of sepsis inducing toxins out of the bloodstream through the elimination of cholesterol or more specifically the elimination of Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) often referred to as ‘bad’ cholesterol. The bacterial toxins that cause sepsis are shuttled via LDL, therefore eliminating LDL is expected to improved outcomes for patients with sepsis.

In addition to patient benefits, the potential market for an effective, directed sepsis therapeutic is massive. The compounds being tested in this study against sepsis are already approved for other therapeutic indications. The team expects to be in Phase II clinical trials within two years.

Outcomes at project end:

Within the scope of this project Cyon Therapeutics was able to identify the best clinical grade anti-PCSK9 antibody (Novartis LGT209 humanized anti-PCSK9 antibody) to in-license and carry forward to clinical development.

They are seeking a major pharma partner for a Phase IIa trail however will also need a major pharma to commit to a phase III trial in order to secure the Phase IIa partner. Two options are being explored. They should know Sept 2017.