Kancera's drug candidate KAND567 has a positive effect on mobility in a preclinical model of spinal cord injury

Kancera AB (Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market: KAN) announces that an independent research group has published results showing that the company's drug candidate KAND567 has a protective effect on nerve tissue and its function in a preclinical disease model of spinal cord injury. These new research findings underscore the potential of KAND567 to protect vital organs by blocking hyperinflammation in a variety of disease states.

The drug candidate KAND567 is developed to protect vital organs in severe illnesses such as acute heart disease and severe viral infections. In the latter part of 2020 Kancera intends to apply for authorization to conduct a Phase II clinical study in myocardial infarction patients. In addition, the company has recently applied for authorization to conduct a Phase II clinical trial in covid-19 patients.

The results of the current study have been generated using a preclinical disease model of spinal cord injury in which it is shown that a single daily administration of KAND567 improves the healing of spinal cord injury. The positive effect on the healing process was reflected in significantly improved mobility compared to the control group which was treated with vehicle only. An analysis of spinal cord tissue shows that KAND567 prevents nerve cells from dying. The nerve-protective effect is likely due to KAND567 suppressing the hyperinflammation that occurs after spinal cord injury. This was evident from a decreased level of the inflammation driving cytokines IL-1beta and IL-6 in the spinal cord. The same cytokines have been linked to inflammatory damage associated with myocardial infarction and covid-19.

The study also included the strongly anti-inflammatory drug methylprednisolone for comparison. Methylprednisolone is a corticosteroid with documented anti-inflammatory effect in spinal cord-injured patients, but its clinical use is limited due to significant side effects. In the present preclinical study, KAND567 exhibits a more pronounced nerve protective effect (fewer dead nerve cells) than methylprednisolone.

"The new preclinical research results once again show that KAND567 has significant potential to counteract tissue damage caused by hyperinflammation and therefore it is important to initiate the first clinical treatment studies as quickly as possible," says Thomas Olin, CEO of Kancera.

The preclinical study was conducted by a research group that is independent of Kancera and is published in International Journal of Molecular Medicine 45: 1373-1384, 2020, where KAND567 is referred to as AZD8797.

About Kancera AB

Kancera develops drugs that counteract damage during acute and chronic inflammation. The fractalkine blocker KAND567 is primarily developed to effectively counteract hyperinflammation in various disease states and thus protect vital organs, e.g. in conjunction with myocardial infarction and severe viral infections. During the second quarter of 2020, Kancera applied for authorization to conduct a phase II clinical study in covid-19 patients. In the second half of 2020, a second application for a Phase II clinical trial is planned for patients with myocardial infarction. Since scientific studies have shown elevated levels of fractalkine not only in heart attacks but also in inflammatory conditions including virus infections and certain forms of cancer, there are several possible development opportunities for the fractalkine blockers KAND567 and KAND145. In collaboration with academic groups, Kancera also develops preclinical drug projects against cancer aimed at stopping survival signals in the cancer cell and preventing the cancer cell's ability to be repaired. Kancera operates at Karolinska Institutet Science Park in Stockholm. The share is traded on Nasdaq First North. FNCA Sweden AB (tel. 08-528 00 399, info@fnca.se) is the company's Certified Adviser. MD PhD Charlotte Edenius, MD PhD Anders Gabrielsen, Professor Carl-Henrik Heldin and Professor Håkan Mellstedt are all scientific advisors and board members of Kancera AB.