Vasogen says VP025 shows anti-inflammatory action in central nervous system

New York, Nov. 16 - Vasogen Inc. reported research indicating its VP025 treatment shows anti-inflammatory effects in the central nervous system.

The results were from two studies presented at Neuroscience 2005, the Society for Neuroscience's 35th annual meeting in Washington, D.C. In one case VP025 inhibited increases in a signaling chemical connected to inflammation while in another the drug was show to have the ability to reverse age-related inflammation in the brain.

"We continue to be impressed by the consistency of the anti-inflammatory effects of VP025 across a number of preclinical neurological studies," said Anthony Bolton, Vasogen's chief scientific officer, in a news release.

"The growing body of evidence demonstrating the ability of VP025 to reduce inflammation within the central nervous system suggests therapeutic potential in a range of neurological disorders and continues to support our plans to initiate phase 2 development."

Data presented by Yvonne Nolan's team from the Department of Anatomy/Neuroscience at University College in Cork, Ireland, demonstrated the ability of VP025 to inhibit increases in levels of p38 MAP kinase, a key component of the inflammation-signaling pathway, regulating IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and other immune system responses associated with many inflammatory conditions.

In a preclinical model of Parkinson's disease, VP025 was shown to inhibit both the increase in p38 levels and the associated death of dopaminergic neurons. The death of dopaminergic neurons in this model system leads to the onset of movement abnormalities that mimic those seen in Parkinson's disease.

Marina Lynch's team from the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Dublin, Ireland, presented results from a model showing the ability of VP025 to reverse age-related inflammation in the brain.

Treatment with VP025 in this model reversed age-related decreases in CD200 levels in the brain, reduced levels of microglial cell activation and restored memory and learning function. CD200, a protein that controls inflammation and maintains microglial cells in an unactivated state, decreases with ageing. Ageing is also associated with increased inflammation in the brain resulting from activation of microglial cells, (inflammatory immune cells of the brain), as evidenced by increases in inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1beta, and a reduction in memory and learning function (measured as long-term potentiation).

Vasogen is a Toronto-based company working on technologies targeting the chronic inflammation underlying cardiovascular and neurological disease.

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