Metablok (LSALT peptide) is our lead drug candidate for treating inflammation in the lungs, liver and kidneys..
Arch believes Metablok has the potential to deliver a major breakthrough in the treatment of diseases where inflammation plays a major role. In August 2019, a scientific team led by Arch scientists Dr. Donna Senger and Dr. Stephen Robbins published a paper in the journal Cell describing a novel mechanism of action for organ inflammation. In the publication, the enzyme dipeptidase-1 was identified as a major neutrophil (white blood cell) adhesion receptor on the lung, liver and kidney endothelium. In the same publication, dipeptidase-1 was shown to be the target of Metablok.
Arch is pursuing clinical development of Metablok to treat acute injury in the lungs, kidneys and liver caused by inflammation.
Arch is currently preparing a Phase II Trial to investigate Metablok’s efficacy in the prevention of multiple organ injuries in patients with COVID-19. In the worst cases of COVID-19 infection, fatalities are often linked to severe acute lung inflammation and subsequent respiratory failure, or acute kidney injury and renal failure.
In March 2020, Arch announced that Metablok successfully met the primary endpoints of safety and tolerability in a Phase I Human Trial involving 52 healthy, normal volunteers. The placebo controlled, double blind study was conducted in Australia.
In addition to the primary composite endpoint of the Phase II trial includes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute kidney injury (AKI) and acute liver injury. Additional endpoints include coagulopathy, cardiomyopathy often experienced by hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the development of the organ inflammation drugs at Arch and has also accelerated regulatory reviews by health authorities. Beyond COVID-19 patients, Arch expects in future to target organ inflammation in other applications.
Metablok in action
The video segments presented below are produced using Intravital Microscopy to observe the real-time effects of Metablok when used to reduce inflammation in mouse models.