Month: September 2021

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – September 30, 2021 – Nimbus Therapeutics, a biotechnology company designing breakthrough medicines through structure-based drug discovery and development, today published research in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences describing the structural basis for isoform-specific inhibition of human CTPS1 (CTP synthase 1). Selective inhibition of CTPS1 is a promising approach for the treatment of autoimmune and other T cell-driven diseases, but little is known about the mechanisms underlying selective versus non-selective inhibition.

Nimbus scientists, in partnership with researchers from the University of Washington and Schrödinger, used cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to characterize the activity of CTPS inhibitors in binding to, inhibiting and distinguishing between CTPS1 and its isoform CTPS2. The cryo-EM research was funded by Nimbus and led by professor Justin Kollman at the University of Washington.

“We’re proud to have conducted this impactful research in partnership with our valued colleagues at University of Washington and Schrödinger, further building on Nimbus’ long history of fruitful academic collaborations,” said Peter Tummino, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Nimbus. “The insights we have published will be instrumental in our efforts to develop selective inhibitors of CTPS1 that can potentially offer a powerful new means of treating autoimmune diseases and T cell-driven cancers.”

“A defining feature of Nimbus’ structure-based drug discovery approach is our use of leading-edge computational technology, including cryo-EM, to characterize drug targets in unprecedented detail,” said Scott Edmondson, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Head of Chemistry at Nimbus. “The discoveries made in this research, together with Nimbus’ expertise in computational chemistry, molecular sciences and disease biology, will inform our ongoing development of highly selective small-molecule CTPS1 inhibitors.”

The paper, entitled “Structural basis for isoform-specific inhibition of human CTPS1,” published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week: https://www.pnas.org/content/118/40/e2107968118.

About Nimbus Therapeutics

Nimbus Therapeutics designs breakthrough medicines. Utilizing its powerful structure-based drug discovery engine, Nimbus designs potent and selective small molecule compounds targeting proteins that are known to be fundamental drivers of pathology in highly prevalent human diseases and which have proven difficult for other drug makers to tackle. Nimbus is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. www.nimbustx.com

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – September 14, 2021 – Nimbus Therapeutics, a biotechnology company designing breakthrough medicines through structure-based drug discovery and development, today announced dosing of patients in the Phase 2b study of the company’s oral allosteric TYK2 inhibitor. The study will assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the investigational therapy in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

“Nimbus is proud to be embarking on this next phase of clinical study of our TYK2 program, bringing us another step closer to delivering a powerful new treatment option to patients with moderate to severe psoriasis,” said Jeb Keiper, M.S., MBA, Chief Executive Officer of Nimbus. “Allosteric TYK2 inhibitors have immense promise as a new class of medicines that can selectively inhibit TYK2 and therefore offer the potential for treating psoriasis and other autoimmune and inflammatory conditions with greater efficacy and fewer safety concerns than previous generations of medications.”

TYK2 inhibition is a promising treatment approach for a wide range of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases thanks to the protein’s central role in both the innate and adaptive immune responses. Nimbus’ allosteric TYK2 inhibitor has demonstrated highly selective inhibition of TYK2 with little evidence of off-target effects, and in Phase 1 studies, demonstrated safety and tolerability with efficacy signals consistent with what is expected of an allosteric TYK2 inhibitor.

The Phase 2b trial (NCT# 04999839) is a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that will evaluate four dosages of the investigational therapy taken orally once per day. It is planned to enroll approximately 250 subjects. Its primary endpoint will be the proportion of patients achieving PASI-75, meaning a 75% improvement in skin lesions as measured by the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, at 12 weeks. Additional trial details can be found by visiting ClinicalTrials.gov.

“We are grateful to partner with the leading investigators and medical centers participating in this trial,” said Bhaskar Srivastava, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President of Early Clinical Development at Nimbus. “What Nimbus and our partners do every day helps create new options and hope for patients.”

Nimbus plans to initiate multiple other Phase 2 studies in various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases in 2021 and 2022 to elucidate the full range of potential patient benefit from its oral allosteric TYK2 inhibitor.

Media Contact:

Lisa Raffensperger, (617) 903-8783
Ten Bridge Communications
lisa@tenbridgecommunications.com

About Nimbus Therapeutics

Nimbus Therapeutics designs breakthrough medicines. Utilizing its powerful structure-based drug discovery engine, Nimbus designs potent and selective small molecule compounds targeting proteins that are known to be fundamental drivers of pathology in highly prevalent human diseases and which have proven difficult for other drug makers to tackle. Nimbus is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. www.nimbustx.com

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