CLINUVEL has expanded its pharmaceutical development portfolio with
NEURACTHEL®, novel formulations of the melanocortin
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The Company has secured supply
of ACTH with one of its strategic partners to meet existing global
demand, and will be evaluating the potential of NEURACTHEL® for
patients with neurological, endocrinological, and degenerative
disorders, who lack alternative therapy.
ACTH is from the same family of bioactive hormones –
melanocortins – as afamelanotide, the first pharmaceutical product
CLINUVEL has successfully commercialised as SCENESSE®.1 Various
formulations of ACTH are approved globally for patient use, with
2020 sales of the drug estimated at US$1.29 billion and expected to
grow to around US$1.91 billion by 2031.2
“ACTH is a well recognised, licensed
treatment for a number of neurological and endocrinological
diseases, yet global supply and availability of the product have
recently been disrupted and its full clinical potential remains
unrealised,” CLINUVEL’s VP of Scientific Affairs,
Dr Tim Zhao said.
“Our research and commercial expertise in melanocortin
drugs and peptide drug delivery platforms means we are well placed
to ensure the successful, safe and efficient development and
commercialisation of ACTH formulations as
NEURACTHEL®. We also know there
are many more underserved patient groups who would benefit from
NEURACTHEL® treatment, and we
will be addressing these unmet medical needs. The Company now has
multiple products in development for patients and other
populations,” Dr Zhao said.
Melanocortins are hormones which act on cells throughout the
body and can play a role in regulating the central nervous system,
energy balance, appetite, photoprotection and DNA repair, as well
sexual function. The naturally occurring human hormone ACTH is
essential for the production of cortisol, enabling the combat of
stress and regulation of immune responses, maintenance of blood
pressure, moderation of blood sugar, and regulation of
metabolism
“Over the last two decades CLINUVEL has established
itself as the world experts in melanocortin drug development and
commercialisation,” CLINUVEL’s Director of Global
Operations, Mr Lachlan Hay said. “Our
understanding of the technology and potential of these products
allow us to unlock value for patients who lack
alternatives.”
CLINUVEL’s teams have proven expertise in melanocortin
development with an initial focus on SCENESSE®, the world’s first
systemic photoprotective drug, formulated as a controlled-release
injectable implant in light and UV-provoked diseases. The Company
is currently evaluating the potential of afamelanotide and other
melanocortin drugs as therapeutic agents for patients with acute
and life-threatening genetic, metabolic, neurological, vascular,
endocrinological, and degenerative disorders.
“We can now methodically pursue our
NEURACTHEL® programs, having
secured supply of ACTH to a current Good Manufacturing Practices,
or cGMP, standard – the standard demanded by global regulatory
authorities. CLINUVEL’s formulation teams at the VALLAURIX
Research, Development and Innovation Centre in Singapore have
advanced a number of innovative instant- and controlled-release
formulations which are being used as platforms for melanocortin
therapies, including ACTH,” Dr Zhao
said.
1 SCENESSE® is approved in Europe, the USA and Australia for the
prevention of phototoxicity in adult patients with erythropoietic
protoporphyria (EPP).2 Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) market –
global industry analysis, size, share, trends, and forecast,
2017-2031 by Transparency Market Research (TMR), 2021.
Media Enquiries Monsoon Communications Mr
Rudi Michelson, 61 411 402 737, rudim@monsoon.com.au
About CLINUVEL PHARMACEUTICALS
LIMITED CLINUVEL PHARMACEUTICALS LTD (ASX: CUV;
NASDAQ INTERNATIONAL DESIGNATION ADR: CLVLY; XETRA-DAX: UR9) is a
global and diversified biopharmaceutical company focused on
developing and commercialising treatments for patients with
genetic, metabolic, systemic, and life-threatening, acute
disorders, as well as healthcare solutions for the general
population. As pioneers in photomedicine and understanding the
interaction of light and human biology, CLINUVEL’s research and
development has led to innovative treatments for patient
populations with a clinical need for systemic photoprotection, DNA
repair and acute or life-threatening conditions. These patient
groups range in size from 5,000 to 45 million worldwide. CLINUVEL’s
lead compound, SCENESSE® (afamelanotide 16mg), was approved by the
European Commission in 2014, the US Food and Drug Administration in
2019 and the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration in 2020 as
the world’s first systemic photoprotective dug for the prevention
of phototoxicity (anaphylactoid reactions and burns) in adult
patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP). More information
on EPP can be found at http://www.epp.care. Headquartered in
Melbourne, Australia, CLINUVEL has operations in Europe, Singapore
and the USA. For more information, please go to
http://www.clinuvel.com.
SCENESSE® , PRÉNUMBRA® , and NEURACTHEL® are registered
trademarks of CLINUVEL PHARMACEUTICALS LTD.
Head of Investor Relations Mr
Malcolm Bull, CLINUVEL PHARMACEUTICALS LTD
Investor Enquiries
https://www.clinuvel.com/investors/contact-us
Forward-Looking Statements This release
contains forward-looking statements. Please see www.clinuvel.com
for further details
www.clinuvel.com
Level 11, 535 Bourke Street, Melbourne - Victoria,
Australia, 3000 T +61 3 9660 4900 F +61 3 9660 4909
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