­ MetrioPharm Achieves 50% of Target Patients Randomized in MP1032 Phase II Clinical Trial

MetrioPharm AG, a pharmaceutical biotech company developing drugs for chronic inflammatory diseases, announced that more than 50% of patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis (PASI entry score 10-20) have been randomized in the company’s ongoing Phase II clinical trial.

The Phase II study is being conducted in Germany and Poland as a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, twice-daily oral trial over 12 weeks. Psoriasis patients aged 18 to 70 years receive either MP1032 (150 mg or 300 mg) or placebo. Fourteen study centers in Germany and Poland are participating in this study. The primary objective is to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of MP1032 at different doses.

Dr. Petra Schulz, project manager of the Phase II study at MetrioPharm, is very pleased with this result: "Thanks to all the investigators for this great start. With this, I am optimistic that we will be able to stay well on track."

MetrioPharm expects the randomization to be completed by the end of 2018.

About MP1032
MP1032 is the lead compound of a class of proprietary immune modulators developed by MetrioPharm. MP1032 is believed to modulate the oxidative stress-mediated activation state of macrophages and downregulate the M1 state. In contrast to other immune-modulating and disease-modifying drugs, MP1032 does not impact T-cells and preferentially affects macrophages at the sites of inflammation. MP1032 has shown anti-inflammatory activity in animal models of disease and a favorable toxicology profile in pre-clinical studies.

For the first Phase II study with MP1032, the indication psoriasis was selected because this immune-induced inflammatory disease is regarded as a so-called »door-opener indication«. Successes in the treatment of psoriasis have already led to first indications of promise for use in other chronic inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis and multiple sclerosis.