Antegren Athena Neurosciences Inc

AN-100226 (Antegren), a humanized monoclonal antibody (MAb) directed against the alpha4beta1 integrin (VLA-4) expressed on leukocytes, is under development by Athena Neurosciences as a potential treatment of exacerbations in multiple sclerosis (MS). VLA-4 specifically binds to VCAM-1, a ligand present on brain endothelial cells which is a potential mediator of autoimmune disorders, leading to MS [222518]. Phase II trials in 70 patients with MS in the UK were assessed over a 12-week period. Antegren significantly reduced new brain lesions [275424]. In two separate pilot studies involving a total of 40 patients suffering from Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, treatment with Antegrin was well-tolerated and efficacious. Interim analysis of phase II data has indicated promising results [179966,276967]. Antegren is claimed in the associated patent, WO-09519790. VLA-4 itself and monoclonal antibodies for the integrin were first described in a patent (EP-00330506) by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. In April 1998, Protein Design Labs (PDL) granted a worldwide, non-exclusive license for Antegren under its antibody humanization patents, to a subsidiary of Elan [286198].