APPA modulates pathological aspects of human neutrophil function, without suppressing antimicrobial ability, and inhibits TNFα expression and signalling A greater understanding of neutrophil biology has led to an appreciation that these cells play a significant role in many systemic inflammatory conditions but targeting neutrophils therapeutically has proven challenging, as host defences must not be compromised. Neutrophils contribute to infl...

AKLRD has successfully completed a Phase I APPA in Osteoarthritis (OA) trial. The Principal Investigator of this study summarized in the results that the primary endpoint had been met as “APPA was demonstrated to be safe and well-tolerated by all subjects in the trial”. The full study report will be available shortly. The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) support approved Phase 1 study, sponsored by University of Liverpool, was...

Previous work has shown that the anti-inflammatory effects seen with APPA results from upregulation of Nrf-2 and reduction of NF-kB activity (see news item Summary of Effects of APPA on Neutrophils). Harmonisation of the molecular cross-talk between these intracellular messengers is known to reduce the levels of COX-1 and COX-2, enzymes that are inhibited by NSAIDs and thought to be involved in NSAIDs' side effect profiles including heart fail...

AKL Research and Development (AKLRD), a company developing an investigational osteoarthritis (OA) medicine, has announced the appointment of Michael Martin as its Chief Financial Officer. With more than 40 years’ global corporate finance experience advising companies in Mergers & Acquisitions, Initial Public Offerings and private equity, Mr Martin brings a wealth of deal experience to the AKL management team.  His appointment c...

AKL Research and Development (AKLRD) and Nordic Bioscience Clinical Development, have announced a risk-share agreement to assess the efficacy of a novel, oral medicine, APPA, in a phase II trial of Osteoarthritis (OA). The collaboration was announced at the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) World Congress 2019 in Toronto, Canada.  The partnership will assess the effectiveness of APPA both in relieving OA pain and in ...

The Phase I clinical trial at Liverpool is designed to test the safety of APPA.  The first stage is now complete, and the clinical trial dose escalation committee has approved the transition from a single dose in healthy volunteers to multiple ascending 2 week dosing in osteoarthritis patients. In this part of a clinical trial, dose levels and frequency are chosen to achieve therapeutic drug levels and are maintained at steady state for 2 wee...

AKL Research and Development (AKLRD), a company developing an investigational osteoarthritis (OA) medicine, announces the appointment of Dr Annalisa Jenkins and Lord Michael Grade as advisors. Dr Jenkins is former Head of Global Research & Development and Executive Vice President Global Development & Medical at Merck Serono. Lord Grade is former Chairman of the BBC. Current Chief Operating Officer (COO) of AKLRD David Miles has bee...

A recent article from Reuters Health has highlighted research by the American College of Rheumatology whose researchers have determined that obese people with knee osteoarthritis, a painful joint disease, may find greater symptom relief when they lose larger amounts of weight than when they shed fewer pounds, a recent study suggests. The researchers examined data on 240 obese adults with pain from knee osteoarthritis who were participating in an...