APEPTICO is a privately-held biotechnology company based in Austria, developing peptide-based products targeting chronic and life-threatening diseases. The peptide molecules correspond to validated, pharmacodynamic active structures and domains of well-known proteins and biopharmaceuticals.
APEPTICO’s proprietary therapeutic molecule Solnatide (INN) is being developed by APEPTICO for the treatment of various forms of life-threatening pulmonary oedema. APEPTICO has successfully completed two RCT Phase IIa clinical trials with orally inhaled Solnatide for the treatment of patients with pulmonary permeability oedema and ARDS, and for the treatment of patients with primary graft dysfunction (PGD) following lung transplantation. Non-clinically and clinically assessments for treatment of high-altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE), treatment of pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1b (PHA type 1b) as well as treatment of severe cardiogenic pulmonary oedema are ongoing.
HAISCO Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. (Chengdu, Sichuan, China) is a public listed company and one of the leading innovative company in China. HAISCO Pharmaceutical Group focusses on innovative and generic drugs, as well medical device.
Within the Framework Agreement, HAISCO Pharmaceutical Group Co,. Ltd. obtains the right to enter into a definitive licensing agreement with APEPTICO Forschung und Entwicklung GmbH, to participate in the clinical development of APEPTICO’s lead compound Solnatide, and to commercialise Solnatide peptide-based medicines in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) including Hong Kong and Macau.
The Framework Agreement further defines milestone, development and royalty payments from HAISCO to APEPTICO.
About solnatide
APEPTICO’s proprietary therapeutic molecule solnatide (INN) is a synthetically manufactured structural equivalent to a domain of a human protein. Solnatide is being developed by APEPTICO for the treatment of various forms of life-threatening pulmonary oedema.
Liquid and dry powder formulations of solnatide can be administered into the lung by inhalation of aerosol particles with diameter 5 micrometres or less. Solnatide activates the lung epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), located apically in alveolar epithelial cells, by directly binding to the crucial α-subunit of the channel, thus enhancing sodium ion uptake from the alveolar space across the alveolar cell membrane.
APEPTICO has successfully completed two phase II randomized controlled trials with orally inhaled Solnatide, one for the treatment of patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and one for the treatment of patients with Primary Graft Dysfunction (PGD) following lung transplantation. Assessments for the treatment of High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPE) as well as severe cardiogenic pulmonary oedema are also underway.