Products in Development

VLST-007 (hCD47-hFc)

VLST-007: For the Treatment of Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases

VLST-007 is a dimeric protein comprised of human CD47 extracellular domain fused to the Fc portion of a human IgG1 molecule. VLST-007 is designed to modulate the interaction between CD47 and its extracellular ligand, signal-regulatory protein a (SIRPα). CD47-Fc binding to SIRPα inhibits the activation of myeloid cells, which are important mediators of inflammation in autoimmune diseases VLST-007 is being developed as an inhibitor of inflammation for use in autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.

Many pox viruses express a similar molecule, viral CD47, which was probably acquired from the mammalian host to evade the host immune response. It has been shown in animal models that viral CD47 can modulate myeloid cell and suppress an anti-viral macrophage response. The demonstration that viruses utilize a form of CD47 to suppress host immune function has led us to develop a human therapeutic, VLST-007, to modulate CD47-CD47 ligand interactions and inhibit pro-inflammatory responses.

The immunomodulatory effects of VLST-007 have been evaluated utilizing a combination of in vitro and in vivo studies. In vitro studies demonstrated that CD47-Fc (both human and murine) effectively inhibits the secretion of inflammatory mediators by macrophages and dendritic cells. Furthermore, when tested in a murine model of arthritis, CD47-Fc significantly ameliorated disease when administered either prophylactically or therapeutically. Collectively, these data provide strong support for the utility of a hCD47-hFc therapeutic in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

VLST has completed preclinical development of VLST-007, including in vitro and in vivo pharmacology studies, pilot pharmacokinetics and toxicology studies, and manufacturing scale up. We are actively seeking a partner for the continued development of this program.