PPS to treat viral joint pain and arthritis

Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals (ASX:PAR) and Griffith University have announced pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS) as a potential breakthrough in the treatment for alphavirus-induced arthralgia and arthritis.

The news follows the release of crucial preclinical data demonstrating efficacy of PPS in mouse models of Ross River virus (RRV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection — mosquito-transmitted viruses that are causing epidemics of severe musculoskeletal disease worldwide. The hallmark of alphavirus disease is crippling joint pain and arthritis, which leaves patients bedridden and incapacitated. Sufferers are currently offered symptomatic management in the form of either non-steroidal anti-inflammatories or corticosteroids, but their use often results in detrimental side effects while failing to treat the underlying disease.

“PPS is a promising new agent for RRV-induced arthritis acting to reduce viral-induced inflammation and preserve the cartilage matrix, which is damaged during virus infection,” said Dr Lara Herrero, leading research scientist at Griffith’s Institute for Glycomics. PPS has previously been shown to significantly increase the production of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) and reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF and IL-1).

The PPS study conducted by Dr Herrero and her colleagues saw the infected mice suffer from a significant acute inflammatory response and cartilage destruction. However, the severity of disease was alleviated by PPS therapy as assessed by histological analysis, gene expression and soluble biomarkers, with severe RRV-induced joint pathology diminishing with treatment.

“Our study showed that treatment with PPS also reduced the loss of articular cartilage and protected the level of proteoglycans in the cartilage matrix,” said Dr Herrero. “Overall, we concluded in our study PPS was a safe and effective treatment for both acute and chronic RRV infection.”

The study’s results led to the successful treatment of five arthralgia patients, who have failed current standard of treatment, with PPS. The patients were treated in a number of Queensland GP clinics under the authority of the TGA special access scheme, and most have gone on to show improvement in the quality of life assessments.

“We are ecstatic that the scientific validation and independent preclinical research performed by Dr Herrero has provided the basis to treat patients suffering from virally transmitted arthralgia with PPS,” said Paradigm Chief Scientific Officer Dr Ravi Krishnan. “There is clearly an unmet medical need for this ailment and Paradigm will be embarking in a Phase 2 clinical trial to consolidate our preliminary clinical findings.”

Paradigm and Griffith University have since entered into a license and assignment agreement under which Paradigm will fund and undertake the necessary clinical trials. If a Phase 2 clinical trial is successful, Griffith University will receive a royalty on Paradigm’s sale of the drug to treat viral arthritis.

Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals (ASX:PAR) shares were 7.22% higher at $0.52 as of the close of trade yesterday, the day of the announcement. They had dipped to $0.50 as of around 2 pm on Thursday.