Interview with Keith Martin, CEO, Apitope
Apitope’s research and success is based on its High Speed Technology Platform that uses soluble peptides as vehicles to regulate immune responses in patients. What is the history behind this…
Address: Bristol & Bath Science Park
Dirac Crescent
Emersons Green
Bristol
BS16 7FR
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)117 370 7720
Apitope is a privately owned European biotech company developing antigen specific therapeutic peptides for the treatment of allergy and autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, Graves’ disease, Uveitis, and others.
Autoimmune disease arises from our own immune system responding incorrectly to the proteins and complex tissues that make up our body. For example, multiple sclerosis is caused by immune cells attacking the myelin sheath that insulates the neurons within nervous system including the brain and spinal cord.
Our research team is currently developing peptide based therapeutics designed to selectively suppress this aberrant interaction between immune cell and protein antigen, reinstating the body’s natural immune tolerance to the body’s own proteins.
This approach is founded on peer reviewed research demonstrating that treatment with a soluble, synthetic peptide derived from a known antigenic protein (such as myelin basic protein; a constituent of myelin) can prevent the immune system from responding to that protein as a threat.
In order to induce this process of immune-tolerance we must first identify the region within an antigen that the immune system recognises as a threat during an autoimmune disease. This region is referred to as an epitope.
However, Apitope has shown that in order for an epitope to effectively suppress disease it must behave as an Apitope® – Antigen Processing Independent epiTOPE. Our patented discovery platform enables us to efficiently identify and design these unique peptide therapeutics.
We aim to become the partner of choice for companies developing disease modifying therapies for autoimmune diseases and allergies.
Driving us towards this goal, Apitope has an highly experienced senior management team, each with a proven track record in the translation of novel therapeutics from bench to bedside.
Apitope’s most advanced product candidate, ATX-MS-1467, is undergoing Phase I trials in patients with multiple sclerosis. Our clinical development team is working in partnership with Merck-Serono, a leading company in the development and marketing of MS therapies, to move our product ahead as quickly and effectively as possible.
The company’s lead product candidate is under investigation for the potential treatment of multiple sclerosis and is currently in Phase I clinical development. It is partnered with Merck-Serono (a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), one of the leading companies in the development and marketing of MS therapies.
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