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Micromet study supports potential of human antibody MT203 as anti-inflammatory treatment
By E. Janene Geiss
Philadelphia, June 15 - Micromet, Inc. reported Thursday results of a scientific study that describes one of the first human, high-affinity IgG1 antibodies potently neutralizing human GM-CSF.
The compound, designated MT203, was generated by Micromet using phage display-guided selection and is in preclinical development as a novel treatment for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases including, but not limited, to rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, multiple sclerosis and psoriasis, according to a company news release.
Results from in-vitro studies demonstrate that MT203 binds human GM-CSF with low picomolar affinity and potently prevents GM-CSF-induced proliferation as well as production of the chemokine IL-8, officials said.
Moreover, the human antibody was observed to significantly reduce both the activation and survival of human eosinophils, which are involved in the development of a number of inflammatory lung diseases.
MT203 retained full neutralizing activity after five days in human serum at 37 degrees Celsius, officials said.
The company said the results were published in Molecular Immunology.
GM-CSF was only recently recognized as a key pro-inflammatory cytokine responsible for the proliferation, activation and survival of a host of immune cells, which play pivotal roles in the development and progression of inflammatory diseases, officials said.
A significant benefit of neutralizing GM-CSF has been shown in animal models for rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, multiple sclerosis and psoriasis, officials said.
Micromet is a Carlsbad, Calif., biopharmaceutical company focused on developing antibody-based products.
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