Dimerix Bioscience develop DMX200 to improve the outcome of Chronic Kidney Disease

23 October 2014 – Dimerix Bioscience Limited  

DMX200 – the first therapy from the extensive pipeline of potential new treatments from Dimerix Bioscience

Chronic kidney disease has a high rate of premature death. It has been identified as the seventh most common cause (underlying or associated) of death in Australia. The growth in kidney disease is being fuelled by the rise of obesity and diabetes in the community. Surveys show that about 1.7 million adult Australians have evidence of mild to moderate kidney disease and are at increased risk of kidney failure or cardiovascular disease. Progression of chronic kidney disease progresses leads to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), when the kidneys fail completely and require regular dialysis or kidney transplantation, and places a high burden on healthcare resources.

Current treatments for chronic kidney disease are characterised by potential toxicity and limited efficacy. However, an Australian company, Dimerix Bioscience, is developing its own therapeutic program known as DMX200 to improve the impact of treatment. Dr James Williams, Executive Chairman of Dimerix Bioscience explains the approach, “Dimerix has identified a combination of two drugs that, when administered together in the appropriate ratio, has the potential to improve the outcome of Chronic Kidney Disease.”

Platform Technology – Receptor-HIT

The therapeutic rationale for DMX200 was developed using Dimerix’s core patented technology, Receptor-Heteromer Identification Technology (Receptor-HIT). “This technology enables identification how different receptors and drugs interact with each other, and the unique pharmacology that results from these interactions. For this reason, Dimerix is positioned as an ‘enabler’ for existing pharma companies to optimise existing treatments or discover entirely new treatments”.

Dr Williams continued “Dimerix has identified over 50 novel combinations of receptors. This information has enabled Dimerix to identify certain commercially attractive drug development opportunities, with the lead program being DMX200.”

DMX200 – Treating Chronic Kidney Disease

DMX200 is a new therapeutic approach with its initial focus as a treatment for persistent proteinuria (protein in the urine, where there normally is no protein) caused by chronic kidney disease. By initially focusing on rare forms of kidney disease, the therapy may receive orphan drug designation. Orphan designation is provided by regulators to facilitate treatments for rare diseases to encourage and support the development of these drugs with a streamlined regulatory process.

Dimerix has recently received approval to commence its Phase II clinical trial of DMX200 in patients with chronic kidney disease. Executive Chairman, Dr James Williams said “This is an exciting step for Dimerix as we focus on establishing clinical proof of concept for the DMX200 therapy in an area of unmet clinical need.”

Commercialisation and Growth Plan

DMX200 has the potential for a relatively fast route to market due to the availability of extensive safety data for the two selected compounds for use in the therapy. Dimerix intends to use the data from the DMX200 study to engage with regulators to progress the development of the therapy.

The combination of a lead clinical program and a discovery platform enables Dimerix to have a multifaceted, and therefore de-risked commercial strategy. “As a result of the Receptor-HIT work,

Dimerix has been approached by several top 10 Pharmaceutical companies, and has assisted them with their drug discovery programs by applying the Dimerix technology” said Dr Williams. “These types of relationships provide future opportunity for multiple commercial transactions centred on different therapeutic areas.”

Investors have also seen the potential in the company with interest shown since the company’s listing on Wholesale Investor. “The technology, the markets, and the results to date all suggest that Dimerix is a company with a strong future.”