Mechelen, Belgium; 20 October 2014 - Galapagos NV (Euronext: GLPG) discloses GPR84 as a promising novel target for treating inflammatory bowel disease during an oral presentation at United European Gastroenterology Week in Vienna on 21 October. Furthermore, Galapagos presents a poster disclosing favorable Phase 1 results with GLPG1205, the first clinical compound ever developed against target GPR84.
The oral presentation entitled, "GPR84, a novel target for the development of therapies in IBD," (abstract OP183), will take place in the Free Paper Session "Towards better understanding of IBD pathogenesis," at 12.00 PM in Hall N on 21 October, 2014. Galapagos will present compelling pre-clinical evidence for GPR84 playing a key role in IBD pathology. The discovery of a selective antagonist of GPR84 led to GLPG1205, which shows strong efficacy in relevant pre-clinical models for IBD.
Galapagos will also present a poster on the safety and druglike properties of GLPG1205 in clinical Phase 1: "Human safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the GPR84 antagonist GLPG1205, a potential new approach to treat IBD," (P0341), today in Hall XL from 9.00 - 17.00. GLPG1205 was shown to be safe and well tolerated in healthy volunteers up to 100 mg daily. The drug shows a favorable PK/PD profile, clearly demonstrating the ability of the compound to engage GPR84. Once-daily dosing of GLPG1205 resulted in sustained an extensive full 24-hour inhibition of GPR84 ligand binding.
Both the slides and poster are available on www.glpg.com.
In 2007, Galapagos announced an alliance agreement with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV providing the option to worldwide, commercial licenses to certain Galapagos internal inflammatory disease programs. These programs include novel targets for inflammatory disorders that were identified and validated by Galapagos using its proprietary target discovery engine. Subsequent Galapagos research led to the discovery of novel compounds acting on those targets. Galapagos is responsible for execution of Phase 1 and Phase 2A studies with compounds in the alliance.
About Galapagos
Galapagos (Euronext: GLPG; OTC: GLPYY) is specialized in novel modes-of-action, with a pipeline comprising three Phase 2 studies, two Phase 1 studies, five pre-clinical, and 20 discovery small-molecule and antibody programs in cystic fibrosis, inflammation, antibiotics and metabolic disease. In the field of inflammation, AbbVie and Galapagos signed an agreement for the development and commercialization of GLPG0634. GLPG0634 is an orally-available, selective inhibitor of JAK1 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, currently in Phase 2B studies in RA and in Phase 2 in Crohn's disease. Galapagos has another selective JAK1 inhibitor, GSK2586184 (formerly GLPG0778, in-licensed by GlaxoSmithKline in 2012). AbbVie and Galapagos signed an agreement in cystic fibrosis to develop and commercialize molecules that address mutations in the CFTR gene. Potentiator GLPG1837 is expected to start Phase 1 in 2014. Galapagos also expects to nominate a pre-clinical candidate corrector before year end 2014. The Galapagos Group, including fee-for-service subsidiary Fidelta, has around 400 employees, operating from its Mechelen, Belgium headquarters and facilities in The Netherlands, France, and Croatia. Further information at: www.glpg.com
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