- December 09, 2019
- Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Taiho Pharmaceutical's Development of a Therapeutic Drug for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (TAS-205) Selected for AMED's CiCLE Program
Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced today that its development of a therapeutic drug for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) (development code: TAS-205) has been selected as one of the 4th Cyclic Innovation for Clinical Empowerment (CiCLE) program in fiscal 2019. This program is operated by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED).
Selected R&D Topic
Application title: Development of an innovative therapeutic drug for DMD with a novel mechanism of action originating from Japan by utilizing patient registry
Representative organization: Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Taiho Pharmaceutical believes that this agent will contribute to patient treatment as a new treatment option for DMD, a disease that is ranked high in terms of unmet medical needs.
About CiCLE
This program aims at creating a foundation (including human resources) for a radical transformation in the way research and development is conducted in response to needs arising in clinical settings and for accelerating the practical application to pharmaceutical products. It also seeks to drive the creation of an environment that strongly promotes the fostering of open innovation in the field of medical research and development through the combined efforts of government, academia, and the private sector.
About DMD（Duchenne muscular dystrophy）
DMD is a genetic disorder with a higher prevalence in young males. It is caused by a genetic mutation in a dystrophin gene, which codes a protein supporting the framework of muscle cells. It is a refractory, serious illness leading to a loss of muscle strength caused by the inability to produce normal dystrophin protein. The prevalence of DMD is 1.9 to 3.4 per 100,000 individuals, and there are an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 patients in Japan. At present, oral steroids are the only drug approved for DMD in Japan, and new treatment options are being awaited.
About TAS-205
TAS-205 is a selective hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase (HPGDS) inhibitor discovered by Taiho Pharmaceutical. It is under development as a DMD treatment that controls the decline in motor function in DMD patients by inhibiting HPGDS, which exacerbates the inflammatory response in DMD patients’ muscles. At present, an early phase II clinical trial has been completed.
Information in this news release was current as of the original release date.
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