Metabasis sees preclinical potential for MBO7811

San Diego, USA-based Metabasis Therapeutics has presented results from a preclinical study with MB07811 at the 234th national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston, Massachusetts.

MB07811, the company's liver-targeted, beta-subtype-selective thyroid hormone receptor (TR-beta) agonist product candidate, is currently being evaluated in a clinical trial as a treatment for hyperlipidemia. The results provided evidence that, in normal rats, MB07811 significantly reduced serum cholesterol at doses devoid of effects on the heart and the thyroid hormone axis. Results in a cholesterol-fed rat model were also presented that provided further evidence of the advantages of using Metabasis' proprietary liver-targeting approach. In this animal model, MB07811 treatment resulted in significant cholesterol lowering with little to no effect on other tissues as compared to non-liver targeted TR and TR-beta agonists.

Thyroid hormone receptor agonists represent a novel and potentially important approach for reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol, liver and serum triglycerides, as well as lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)]. However, use of this approach has been hampered by dose-limiting cardiac effects, as well as effects on the thyroid hormone axis, muscle metabolism and bone turnover, the company explains.