EPAC Activation – a validated platform technology providing multiple drug candidates against chronic inflammation and fibrosis

Chronic Inflammatory Diseases (CIDs) represent an unmet need that presents a substantial clinical and economic burden to patients, providers, payers and society overall. Inflammation is the bodies normal healing response to damaging stimuli, including infections, injuries, and toxins. This response includes the release of antibodies and proteins, as well as increased blood flow to the damaged area. The whole process usually lasts for a few hours or days in the case of acute inflammation.

Chronic inflammation happens when this response is not properly resolved, leaving your body in a constant state of alert. Over time, chronic inflammation may have a negative impact on your tissues and organs and leads to the development of CIDs. CIDs are promoted by social, environmental and represent the leading causes of disability and mortality worldwide. CIDs include a spectrum of deadly diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders.

EPAC1 is key enzyme in hormone activation cascades and a candidate drug target in vascular endothelial cells, due to its ability to attenuate chronic inflammation associated with retinal damage, atherosclerosis, pulmonary artery hypertension, severe COVID-19 and atherosclerosis. We have developed a platform to generate novel activators of EPAC1 that have the potential to limit vascular inflammation associated with these diseases, with the potential to treat CIDs in general.