Richard Harty, Ph.D.
Total Award: 1,600, 000.00
Innovations in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Altheus Therapeutics, Inc.
Project Focus:
Altheus Therapeutics, Inc. was founded in 2006 in Oklahoma City, OK based on research conducted by Richard Harty, M.D. at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Altheus is developing Zoenasa™ Rectal Suspension and Oral Controlled Release formulations as novel front-line therapies for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with an initial focus on ulcerative colitis (UC).
Zoenasa is a fixed-dose combination of mesalamine plus a potent antioxidant intended to reduce bowel injury and inflammation associated with IBD. Zoenasa is formulated as a rectal suspension enema (Zoenasa Rectal Suspension) to treat patients suffering from left-sided (distal) ulcerative colitis; and as oral formulations with an extended- and delayed-release profile for patients with proximal or extensive colitis (Zoenasa Oral Sachet and Zoenasa Oral Tablets). Preclinical and clinical data support the concept that Zoenasa provides synergistically superior efficacy over standard of care, mesalamine, in treating UC.
EDGE funding will support Altheus in completion of a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study in UC patients, and allow the company to grow its operating staff to do so. The successful outcome of this study will position the company for funding late-stage clinical studies, partnership opportunities, and commercialization for the Zoenasa products.
