ReAlta Life Sciences' Pegtarazimod Shows Promise in Reducing Brain Inflammation in HIE Preclinical Study

ReAlta Life Sciences has recently unveiled promising preclinical study results indicating that its investigational drug, pegtarazimod (RLS-0071), could play a crucial role in mitigating brain inflammation associated with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). The study, published in the American Journal of Perinatology, demonstrates pegtarazimod's efficacy in reducing microglial recruitment and lowering levels of neuroinflammatory factors, pivotal elements in the progression of brain damage in HIE.

This research builds upon clinical biomarker data from the ongoing Phase 2 STAR trial, which identified elevated myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in newborns with HIE. Pegtarazimod's unique mechanism, targeting both complement activation and MPO activity, suggests a novel therapeutic approach for HIE, a condition currently lacking pharmacological treatment options. Dr. Kenji M. Cunnion, ReAlta's Chief Medical Officer, underscored the significance of these findings, pointing to the drug's potential to disrupt the harmful inflammatory cascade in HIE.

An interim clinical data readout expected in the latter half of 2025 could further substantiate pegtarazimod's effectiveness in treating HIE and other neurological disorders. Dr. Zachary Vesoulis from Washington University School of Medicine, a co-author of the study, noted that the anti-inflammatory effects of pegtarazimod were on par with those of therapeutic hypothermia, the existing standard care for HIE. This preclinical achievement sets the stage for clinical trials, offering new hope for enhancing outcomes in newborns affected by HIE.