APOLLO BEGINS TESTS OF ORAL TNF BLOCKER FOR ARTHRITIS

Apollo Life Sciences has announced that it is starting preclinical trials of a tablet TNF blocker for arthritis using its Oradel oral-delivery system in tandem with its ALS-00T2 TNF blocker, which was developed especially for delivery in tablet form.

The trials extend two key Apollo platforms: the company's Oradel oral-delivery technology, which has already been shown to deliver oral insulin effectively in diabetic rats, and the company's own ALS-00T2 TNF blocker, which has already proven effective at reducing inflammation in animal trials when injected or rubbed on the skin and has completed Phase Ib clinical human trials for psoriasis.

TNF blockers are growing rapidly in popularity for the treatment of inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, psoriasis and Crohn's disease, according to the company. However, they are usually injected or given via intravenous drip.

Apollo believes its Oradel delivery system will potentially transform the experience for patients. A special tablet coating stops the drug being degraded in the stomach and delivers it into the circulatory system.

Following the successful animal trial with oral insulin using Oradel in reducing blood glucose levels in diabetic rats, Apollo's animal trials of ALS-00T2 using Oradel for ALS-00T2 will assess whether the TNF blocker delivered orally is effective at reducing inflammation in mice.