In partnership with Harvard Medical School spin-off, Aramis Biosciences, Exscalate was used to rapidly identify a lead compound for the previous unmet need of an effective treatment for Dry Eye Disease. The project progressed from zero to Phase II investigational new drug approval in just 14 months.

Dry Eye Disease, also referred to as dysfunctional tear syndrome, is a source of huge frustration for patients, often effecting their quality of live. Despite approximately 20 million people in the US being diagnosed with it (344 million people worldwide), according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, it remains misdiagnosed and under treated. Less than five per cent of patients are currently undergoing treatment for Dry Eye Disease with a Food and Drug Administration-approved product. This is likely due to the products’ questionable efficacy and tolerability limitations.

Following more than a decade of research at The Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear and Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School where the role of a certain subset of pro-inflammatory T helper cells were found to be central to the immunopathogenesis of dry eye disease, Aramis Biosciences was founded in 2018 to address this treatment gap in dry eye disease. As a spin-off from Harvard Medical School, Aramis set up as a clinical-stage immuno-ophthalmology biopharmaceutical company. It brought together a team of accomplished pharmaceutical executives and leading experts in the fields of corneal disorders, ocular inflammation and immunology, who are all committed to the development of disease-modifying therapy for ocular surface disease, which encompasses dry eye disease.

Following its research, Aramis patented an in-vivo model for IL-17R target in the dry eye indication. The task now was to identify potential lead candidates. Following a partnership agreement with Exscalate, the Exscalate platform was leveraged to accelerate Aramis’ drug discovery process. 

In the first six months, with the use of its Virtual Library and the power of super computing, Exscalate was able to design and define an in-silico library of peptides. This peptide chemical space was fine-tuned in preparation for primary screening.

From here the workflow consisted of peptides synthesis and definition of a physical library. This resulted in a definition of a pool of peptides for secondary screening.

Following secondary screening and optimization, the most promising lead candidate was identified. In-vivo testing of this lead candidate, A197, was performed by Aramis, which proved to have a high potency compared with anti-IL-17. This drug discovery process took just 14 months. 

From here, the financial and operational resource partnership with Exscalate, enabled Aramis to complete all IND-enabling preclinical studies, Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) development as well as providing Phase II clinical supply of A197. In a licensing agreement with Exscalate, Aramis secures the global ophthalmic rights to this novel, first-in-class, propriety molecule

Following the successful completion of Series A financing, Aramis is continuing to work with its partners, including Exscalate, to advance the company’s pipeline, especially its lead product candidate, A197. The hope is that this promising investigational therapy will improve the lives of dry eye patients worldwide.

Link: https://www.aramisbio.com