In addition, the functional assessment revealed that the treated mice showed significantly decreased pain sensitivity and improved weight bearing in the active treated mice compared to controls. The research serves as a testament of the potential of RNA therapy, and we couldn’t be prouder of their achievements. These findings also bolster unwavering commitment to advancing RNA therapy and underscore the significant impact that it can have on improving health care outcomes. Together with our partners and researchers, we remain steadfast in our mission to harness the power of RNA for the betterment of patients worldwide. At the same time, we advanced the work on our two flagship development programs, AM-401 for the treatment of KRAS driven tumors, and AM-411 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis targeting NF-kB, aiming for an IND submission in 2024.
We plan to out-license the two programs either following IND or after a Phase I clinical trial at the latest. Importantly, we filed a provisional patent application related to the single polyvalent siRNA sequences, which as part of AM-401 and target different KRAS mutations. We call polyKRASmut. If granted, the patent would extent IP coverage for the programs to 2043. In line with our strategy of leveraging OligoPhore/SemaPhore throughout licensing and partnering rather than commercializing our own products, we have significantly expanded our business development activity. This includes the engagement of Maria Grunwald, PhD, a highly experienced business developer based in Boston, as a Senior Business Advisor. As Thomas mentioned earlier, on July 5, 2023, we announced that we were entering into a collaboration and option agreement with Heqet Therapeutics.
A biotech spin-out from Kings College London. For collaboration centers on the testing of nanoparticles utilizing our innovative OligoPhore delivery platform combined with specific non-coding RNA for the purpose of regenerating damaged heart tissue, post-myocardial infarction in animal models. Should this experiments yield successful outcome, Heqet will have an option under certain conditions to initiate negotiations with Altamira for license, granting access to our technology and intellectual property. This in turn, would enable Heqet to advance their discoveries into department of therapeutics for cardiac regeneration. The potential of cardiac muscle regeneration remains a topic of great interest to the global scientific and medical community, given the substantial complications and elevated mortality rates associated with myocardial infarction.
We firmly believe that Altamira’s peptide-based OligoPhore platform tailored for RNA delivery possesses the capacity to serve as a secure and efficient conduit for controlled localized cardiac regeneration. In late May, we shared some exciting news about an article published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. This paper titled peptide-based nanoparticles for systemic extrahepatic delivery of therapeutic nucleotide was offered by researchers from the University of Washington, St. Louis; University of California, Los Angeles; and our very own Chief Scientific Advisor, Samuel Wickline, to discuss the challenges when trying to safely and efficiently deliver important RNA molecules to cells outside the liver. This RNA molecules have great potential for treating various diseases.
The difficulties lie in their natural instability and getting them inside cells. While there are some delivery methods that work well for liver-related conditions, they aren’t as effective for other parts of the body. Additionally, even when one manages to get RNA into cells, getting it out of the endosome and into the right part of the cell can be tricky. In recent years, science made tremendous strides in understanding how cells react to RNA treatment, but major challenges have remained for diseases that aren’t liver-related. That’s where our peptide nanoparticles like OligoPhore and SemaPhore come into play. They offer a promising way to deliver RNA treatments to diseases beyond the liver and ensure they get where they are needed. I will now turn back the call to Thomas.
