APA-01 is in pre-clinical development for the treatment of atherosclerosis in combination with a statin drug. A recent in-vivo 'proof of concept' pre-clinical study demonstrated that the combination of APA-01 and the statin atorvastatin (Lipitor™) significantly reduced serum lipids and inflammatory proteins involved in the development of atherosclerosis. This follows on from an in-vitro study that demonstrated that APA-01 acted synergistically with the statin drug lovastatin.

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is the formation of lipid filled plaques in the wall of medium to large arteries. This plaque formation stiffens the arteries (atherosclerosis) and if the plaques enlarge or rupture they may reduce or obstruct blood flow. Obstructing blood flow causes reduced oxygen to the tissue fed by the affected artery, resulting in strokes, angina, myocardial infarcts (“heart attacks”), or claudication (pain on exercise of limbs), especially the legs.

Current treatment of established atherosclerosis is directed at its complications (e.g., angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, heart failure, kidney failure, ischemic stroke, and blockage of peripheral arteries).

Treatment is also focused on prevention of atherosclerosis through reversal of the risk factors for its development. Risk factors include high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and triglyceride blood levels, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and physical inactivity. In addition to the impact of these risk factors it is recognised that chronic inflammation is involved in the formation of atherosclerosis plaques.

Advantages of APA-01

Current atherosclerosis treatments target risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis (e.g. high LDL-cholesterol & blood pressure). New treatments for atherosclerosis are examining the inflammatory processes involved in the development of plaques.

APA-01 is distinctive in that it inhibits the major pathways that lead to plaque formation, as well as significantly reducing two of the major risk factors - LDL  cholesterol & triglycerides.