First-in-Class Self-Regulated Macrophage Metabolic Modulation
MetrioPharms lead compound MP1032 targets re-programmed, pathogenic macrophages.
In these activated macrophages it downregulates pro-inflammatory cytokines downstream of NF-kB like TNFa, IL-1b, IL-6 and others.
MP1032 acts via normalizing immune cellular redox balance which is essential for physiological cell signaling and cell metabolism.
This auto-regulated mechanism targets the redox modulatory effect of MP1032 exclusively at over-activated immune cells.
In addition to its anti-inflammatory effects, the compound has demonstrated host-mediated anti-viral and anti-bacterial activity in several pre-clinical models.
MP1032 is only Activated by Elevated ROS Concentrations in Immune Cells
Due to its molecular structure, MP1032 is only activated by elevated ROS levels (=oxidative stress) in pathologically metabolically reprogrammed cells. MP1032 does not interfere with the normal redox balance that is essential for physiological cell signaling and cell metabolism.
This self-regulated activation mechanism limits the redox modulatory effect of MP1032 exclusively to (immune) cells under oxidative stress. Once the cellular redox balance is restored, the activation of additional drug molecules stops and the drug activity ceases.
This auto-regulatory activation mechanism ensures that the modulatory activity of the drug stops when physiological redox balance is achieved, without overshooting into reductive stress.