ErepoXen®
Polysialylated Erythropoietin
ErepoXen is a new product candidate from Xenetic, currently undergoing Phase IIb clinical trials, which offers an improved form of erythropoietin (EPO). EPO is a hormone produced by the kidneys to maintain red blood cell production and prevent anaemia. Chronic renal (kidney) failure or chemotherapy to treat cancer can cause anaemia. In cases of renal failure, the kidneys no longer manufacture enough EPO hormone and this causes anaemia. EPO therapy is the treatment of choice for this type of anaemia. The benefits of ErepoXen are:
Reduction in the frequency of dosage
Reduction in immunogenicity
Reduction in toxicity
A further potential benefit of ErepoXen® is that it uses polysialic acid (PSA). PSA is a polymer of sialic acid (a sugar) and it is found naturally in the human body. Most importantly, PSA is completely biodegradable and does not accumulate in the body over time.
How could ErepoXen® improve the performance of EPO?
The global market for EPO drugs is estimated to be in the region of US $9billion. ErepoXen® is a performance-enhanced polysialylated form of EPO. It has been developed to reduce the required frequency of dosage and to be less immunogenic than existing long acting EPOs.
ErepoXen® is currently in Phase II clinical development in collaboration with our partner, the Serum Institute of India.
SuliXen®
Polysialylated Insulin
SuliXen® is a proprietary human insulin new product candidate from Xenetic, which offers potential for the treatment of type II diabetes. It is a long acting injected form of insulin with a performance profile modeled on the existing "best in class" product. The compound has successfully completed Phase I clinical studies.
What are the advantages of SuliXen®?
SuliXen® is an insulin product which is formulated using polysialic acid, a naturally occurring polymer which is biodegradable, non-immunogenic and non-toxic. The use of PSA offers immunological stealth against the body’s own immune responses. This is expected to decrease the likelihood of the body generating anti-insulin antibodies which can be problematic in the management of diabetes.
What is the potential market size for SuliXen®?
The insulin market is expected to reach a value of approximately $17 billion by 2013. Almost 200 million people worldwide are affected by diabetes and the World Health Organisation expects this figure to rise to over 300 million by 2025.
StimuXen™
Polysialylated G-CSF
StimuXen™ is a new product candidate from Xenetic which offers a long-acting polysialylated form of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). G-CSF is prescribed to stimulate production of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell). It is approved for sale in major markets for the treatment of neutropenia (a deficiency in neutrophils) associated with cancer chemotherapy. Plain GCSF and PEGylated G-CSF are already marketed worldwide
How will the performance of StimuXen™ compare to that of other forms of G-CSF?
Xenetic’s StimuXen™ is intended to offer the same levels of performance as long acting forms of G-CSF. In preclinical proof of concepts studies, the pharmacological action of StimuXen™ (i.e. stimulation of neutrophil production) was shown to be as long lasting as that of the PEGylated forms of the drug already on the market.
How does StimuXen™ differ from other G-CSFs?
Stimuxen™ is formulated using polysialic acid (PSA), which is a naturally occurring, biodegradable, non-immunogenic and non-toxic polymer.
StimuXen™ can offer:
- Avoidance of polymer-associated toxicity
- Less frequent injections for patients being treated for neutropenia
Stimuxen™ is currently in late stage pre-clinical development.
InferoXen®
Polysialylated interferon-alpha-2b
InferoXen® is a proprietary polysialylated interferon alpha-2b product candidate from Xenetic, which offers the potential for use as a treatment for Hepatitis C.
Interferon is a protein which occurs naturally in the body in very small amounts and which exists in 3 types (alpha, beta and gamma). Interferon alpha is produced by the body in response to certain viral infections. It can be administered as a protein drug to boost the body’s immune system and is used as a treatment for Hepatitis C and other diseases.
What are the potential advantages of InferoXen®?
Preclinical proof-of-concept studies have demonstrated that InferoXen® can offer:
- A longer blood circulation time than commercially available generic interferon alpha, resulting in fewer injections
- Reduced toxicity compared to other polymer-modified forms of interferon alpha due to the use of biodegradable, non-immunogenic and non-toxic polysialic acid
InferoXen® is currently in late-stage pre-clinical development.
