Medical examine to discover potential of metformin and galantamine mixture to deal with sarcopenia in sufferers with COPD.
Longevity biotech Rejuvenate Biomed has introduced plans to conduct a Part 2 scientific trial for its experimental drug RJx-01 as a possible therapy for sarcopenia, an age-related situation involving lack of muscle mass and energy. The trial, scheduled to start affected person enrollment in early 2025, will assess the drug’s potential to deal with sarcopenia in sufferers with continual obstructive pulmonary illness (COPD).
COPD, the third main reason behind loss of life worldwide, is a progressive situation marked by respiratory problems. Nonetheless, its results lengthen past the lungs, and one in every of its most debilitating problems is sarcopenia, which impacts practically 1 / 4 of COPD sufferers. Sarcopenia is especially pronounced in sufferers hospitalized for COPD, with hospital stays typically leading to additional lack of muscle mass and useful decline. This muscle weak point contributes to greater mortality and morbidity charges, elevated incapacity and mounting healthcare prices.
RJx-01, a mixture of metformin and galantamine, is one in every of 5 mixture medication in Rejuvenate Biomed’s improvement pipeline. Via its AI-driven drug discovery platforms, the corporate identifies and targets illness pathways related to age-related circumstances, together with neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, metabolic, cardiovascular, nephrological and neurodegenerative illnesses.
The brand new Part 2 examine will look at the efficacy and security of RJx-01 in 130 older sufferers who’ve skilled a extreme COPD exacerbation. The examine builds on promising data from Rejuvenate Biomed’s Phase 1b trial, wherein RJx-01 confirmed enhancements in muscle energy, useful mobility and fatigue resistance amongst people with sarcopenia. The trial, involving 42 members aged 65 to 75, revealed important beneficial properties in muscle energy, together with improved useful leg acceleration and resistance to neuromuscular fatigue throughout train.
“Constructive outcomes from our current Part 1b examine underscore RJx-01’s potential to forestall and deal with sarcopenia induced by different circumstances, and enhance sufferers’ high quality of life,” mentioned Dr Ann Beliën, CEO of Rejuvenate Biomed. “We look ahead to initiating this Part 2 examine in COPD sufferers.”
‘Pressing want’ for remedies
The funding for the Part 2 trial is supported by a “multimillion greenback” award from Wellcome Leap’s Dynamic Resilience program, which focuses on creating interventions to reinforce organic resilience in clinically susceptible people, particularly these vulnerable to important decline after a serious well being occasion.
“We urgently want remedies that may assist stop muscle wastage and frailty development when individuals are hospitalized with acute sickness, to allow them to return dwelling and dwell safely and independently,” mentioned Professor Lynne Cox, program director of Wellcome Leap’s Dynamic Resilience program.
Belgium-based Rejuvenate Biomed is partnering with the UK’s Leicester Biomedical Analysis Centre (BRC) and US-based Wellcome Leap on the trial, which seeks to enhance bodily resilience and long-term outcomes for COPD sufferers. The trial on the Leicester BRC shall be led by Dr Neil Greening and Dr Hamish McCauley from the College Hospitals of Leicester NHS Belief.
“Muscle wastage is a big burden for a lot of of our COPD sufferers and it could actually affect on their capability to recuperate, significantly when they’re in hospital and experiencing exacerbations,” mentioned Greening.
