Ardea's RDEA119 reduces damage in UC model

USA-based Ardea Biosciences says data from a preclinical study of RDEA119, its lead mitogen-activated ERK kinase inhibitor, showed it to be a promising investigational therapy for inflammatory diseases.

Findings presented at the American College of Gastroenterology annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, demonstrate that oral administration of RDEA119 was shown to significantly reduce damage to colonic tissue and disease activity in dextran sulfate sodium-induced chronic colitic mice. The beneficial effect of RDEA119 exceeded that of Remicade (infliximab), the current standard-of-care for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, the firm noted.

"Blocking the MEK1/2 pathway appears to be a promising strategy for treating inflammatory disease, for which a significant unmet medical need still exists," said Barry Quart, Ardea's chief executive.