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Novel Immunomodulator Lead Asset EOM613

EOM613 is a peptide-nucleic acid solution created through a chemical process in which ribonucleic acid is combined with short-chain peptides.

EOM613 can produce anti-inflammatory effects in antigen-challenged cells, e.g., diminished secretion of IL-6 and IL-12 (pro-inflammatory cytokines), and a concomitant increased secretion of IL-10 (anti-inflammatory cytokine). The combination of decreased IL-6 and IL-12 and increased IL-10 at the localized sites of antigen activation could mitigate a hyperimmune reaction or “cytokine storm.”

EOM613 can also stimulate a pro-inflammatory response when needed. Normal physiological functions of the cytokines would not be shut off completely elsewhere in the body, as might be expected with an anti-IL-6 or IL-12 antibody.

As noted above, this dual-acting, broad-spectrum approach may overcome a key limitation of many conventional immunomodulators that only reduce the inflammatory state, which may leave a patient more vulnerable to infection. Human cell culture studies suggest that EOM613 may be a dynamically dual-acting immunomodulator that can suppress or stimulate monocytes and macrophages depending on the activation state of those key immune cells.

EOM613 increased secretion of some pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 [A] and GM-CSF [B]), and decreased secretion of others (IL-12 [C] and TNF-ɑ [D]) from LPS-activated adherent monocytes.

EOM613 affects monocyte/macrophage function based on the cellular activation state resulting in either further activation or suppression.

EOM613 promoted a pro-inflammatory response (increased IL-6) in PMA-activated U937 cells, but after those cells were further activated by LPS, EOM613 promoted an anti-inflammatory response by reducing IL-6 secretion.

EOM613 also induced anti-inflammatory effects in PMA- and LPS-activated U937 cells (reduced phagocytosis and increased IL-10 secretion), not shown in this chart.