Almac Discovered Molecule Progresses into Clinical Development with its strategic licensee Vaderis Therapeutics AG

Almac Discovered Molecule Progresses into Clinical Development with its strategic licensee Vaderis Therapeutics AG

Almac Discovery, a research driven biotech company and member of the Almac Group, is delighted that its novel AKT kinase inhibitor (known as VAD044) is being advanced into a proof-of-concept Phase 1b clinical study for patients suffering from Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT).

This patent-protected, allosteric subtype selective AKT kinase inhibitor, which was discovered and taken into early pre-clinical development by Almac Discovery, was out-licensed for all uses, worldwide, to Vaderis Therapeutics AG in May 2020.  

After Vaderis’s successful Phase 1a, VAD044 will now be studied by Vaderis Therapeutics AG in their INSIGHT proof-of-concept trial, which aims to provide a thorough understanding of the safety of a once daily, orally administered, AKT inhibitor medication in HHT patients. A total of 80 HHT patients across North America and Europe will be randomised in a double-blind, controlled trial comparing two doses of the medication to placebo. Initiation of the INSIGHT trial follows Health Authority approvals including FDA, Health Canada and key European agencies.

Professor Tim Harrison, Vice President Drug Discovery, commented: “This excellent news from our out-licensing partner, Vaderis Therapeutics AG, represents a further example of Almac Discovery’s mission to discover new, innovative drug candidates for development through external partnerships and collaboration. We look forward, with great anticipation, to monitoring the findings of the INSIGHT trial and wish Vaderis every success as they emerge from stealth mode and progress through the next phase of clinical development for the benefit of HHT patients across the globe.”