Speedel to begin trials of third renin inhibitor

Swiss drug developer Speedel says that it is to begin a Phase I trial of its new renin inhibitor SPP676. The drug, which is being developed to treat hypertension and related end-organ diseases, will be examined in healthy male volunteers in a program designed to establish its safety and tolerability.

SPP676 belongs to Speedel's SPP600 series of renin inhibitors, the most advanced of which, SPP635, recently achieved promising results in Phase IIa hypertension trial (Marketletter July 9). Alice Huxley, Speedel's chief executive, said that moving SPP676 into clinical development, expected to begin early next year, represents a key part of the firm's strategy to build upon its family of next-generation blood pressure treatments. Dr Huxley added that Speedel believes "that renin inhibition will become the gold standard in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases."