Our lead product STNM01 targeting a glycogene, CHST15, is currently in a pre-clinical study and being developed for the treatment of Crohn’s disease stricture (CDS). CDS occurs in 30% of Crohn’s disease (CD) patients, and is the leading cause for repeat surgeries. STNM01 represents a novel medical approach to replace repeated surgery in CDS, thus considerable economic effect and improvement in patient quality of life is expected.
Stelic researchers discovered that CHST15 is over-expressed at sites of fibrosis in CDS patients and that up-regulation of CHST15 correlates with the severity of fibrosis in animal models of colitis with intestinal fibrosis. CHST15 is inducible by mast cells and fibroblasts in response to inflammatory stimuli and mediates accumulation and activation of fibroblasts at site of injury. STNM01 has been shown to selectively cleave CHST15 mRNA, which blocks expression of the CHST15 protein at sites of injury, and reverse the excessive accumulation of over-activated fibroblasts in this physiological state. This leads to the reduction of excessive collagen deposit and of intestinal stricture without affecting normal tissue structure.
Pre-clinical data indicate that STNM01 acts locally and does not affect other intact organs like the liver or kidneys. STNM01 does not induce an acute inflammatory reaction in normal animals. Antibody-producing capability is not affected as well, suggesting that STNM01 is effective without perturbing the homeostatic immune system.
STNM01 is delivered locally under endoscopic examination. The length and the diameter of the stricture is measured by endoscope and other imaging techniques. The percentage of intestinal stenosis will be a quantitative endpoint in clinical studies. Since the percentage of intestinal stenosis correlates with the severity of fibrosis, the anti-fibrotic action of STNM01 can also be quantified.
In addition, STNM01 is expected to possess wider efficacy in other applications such as intestinal fibrotic diseases besides CDS, collagen diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis) and other auto-immune diseases.
