CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow sign license deal with Marc Labs to develop drug for treating heart attack, stroke

CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow has tied up with UP-based Marc Laboratories, India, and has signed an agreement for the development of a synthetic compound S-007-867 as a modulator of the blood coagulation cascade, in particular as an inhibitor of collagen-induced platelet aggregation. This may be helpful in treating the patient population of coronary and cerebral artery diseases.

The institute has recently obtained permission to initiate Phase I clinical trials for the drug.

Arterial thrombosis is an acute complication that develops on the chronic lesions of atherosclerosis leading to heart attack and stroke. Therefore, inhibition of platelet collagen interaction is anticipated to be a promising therapeutic strategy to treat intravascular thrombosis.

“The compound S-007-867 significantly inhibits collagen mediated platelet activation and subsequently reduces the release of ATP from dense granules and thromboxane A2 via COX1 activation. Thus, it effectively maintains blood flow velocity and delays vascular occlusion (blockage of the blood vessel, usually with a clot) and inhibits thrombogenesis (formation of blood clot) without compromising hemostasis. This drug has less bleeding risk as compared to presently existing therapies for coronary and cerebral artery diseases. In animal experiments, the compound elicited better antithrombotic protection than the standard of care with minimal bleeding tendency. The institute has recently obtained the permission to initiate the Phase I clinical trials for the drug,” informed a statement.

Prophylactic use of this compound could be useful for COVID-19 induced complications.

Besides, in COVID-19 disease, critical patients with ARDS, have high D-dimer and reduce prothrombin time (PT), suggesting pro-thrombotic state. In addition, these patients have high number of circulating neutrophils, inflammatory mediators/cytokine, CRP and lymphocytopenia. Therefore, drugs reducing platelet reactivity and neutrophil activation could be beneficial and based on these criteria the prophylactic use of this compound could be an option due to its high safety and less effect on bleeding time.

On this occasion, Prof Tapas K Kundu, Director, CDRI said, “This is a great moment for CSIR-CDRI, the premiere drug development and research institute of the country to license out an in house developed compound for further investigations as part of our commitment of affordable healthcare for all.”

Prem Kishore, Chairman, Marc Laboratories said, “Marc’s association with CSIR-CDRI will be beneficial to both parties and they will be working hard to take the compound forward so that it sees the light of the day soon”.