Pipeline & science

CX11 is an investigational, oral small molecule GLP-1 RA for the treatment of cardiometabolic diseases, including obesity and type 2 diabetes. GLP-1 RAs have been shown to lower bodyweight, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce glucose and overall appetite. CX11, in a once daily orally available formulation, could offer convenience and accessibility to patients, and lower the cost of manufacturing compared to injectables. In a Phase 2 clinical trial conducted in China, CX11 demonstrated competitive weight loss with favorable safety and tolerability. The registrational Phase 3 study in obese and overweight patients in China has been initiated in November 2024. 

In December 2024, CORXEL acquired the worldwide (excluding Greater China) rights to CX11, from Vincentage. CORXEL plans to initiate a global (excluding Greater China) Phase 2 study in obese and overweight patients in 2025.

JX10 (formerly BIIB131) is an investigational drug for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Its proposed mechanism of action includes both thrombolytic and anti-inflammatory activities. By restoring critical blood flow following acute stroke, it may benefit more patients over current standard of care by extending the otherwise short treatment window.

JX10 is one of the SMTP compounds with (1) pro-thrombolytic, (2) anti-inflammatory, and (3) antioxidative activities.

A Phase 2a study including 90 participants in Japan established preliminary safety and efficacy in AIS patients with late presentations up to 12 hours from symptom onset. This study achieved the primary endpoints for both safety and efficacy as summarized below.

This was a multicenter, single-dose, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study conducted in Japan under the sponsorship of TMS Co. The study enrolled patients with acute ischemic stroke ineligible for the therapies with tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) or thrombectomy. JX10 (at a dose of 1, 3, or 6 mg/kg) and placebo were administered within 12 hours of the symptom onset to 52 and 38 patients, respectively.

In January 2024, CORXEL acquired the global rights for JX10, excluding Japan, from Biogen. TMS regains Japan rights of JX10 and will join forces with CORXEL to expeditiously develop and launch JX10, facilitated by the formation of a Joint Development Committee. CORXEL is now initiating a global registrational study to further evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of JX10 in Acute Ischemic Stroke with Late Presentations.

JX09 is a next-generation, highly selective aldosterone synthase inhibitor. Aldosterone plays an important role in the development of hypertension, heart failure and chronic kidney disease. Directly targeting the synthesis of aldosterone has been developed as a novel alternative strategy. Preclinical data suggest that JX09 offers strong potency inhibiting aldosterone synthase, with very little impact on the biological functions of a homologous enzyme that is key to cortisol synthesis. The high potency and selectivity make JX09 a potential best-in-class drug candidate. 

In February 2023, CORXEL obtained global rights to JX09 from PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. In February 2024, CORXEL successfully dosed the first subject in the Phase I clinical trial of the cardiovascular investigational product JX09 in Australia.

Etripamil, a new chemical entity, is the lead investigational product of Milestone® Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: MIST). It is a novel calcium channel blocker designed to be a rapid-response therapy for episodic cardiovascular conditions. As a nasal spray that is self-administered by the patient, etripamil has the potential to shift the current treatment experience for many patients from the emergency department to a medically unsupervised setting.

CORXEL acquired the Greater China right with etripamil in May 2021 from Milestone Pharmaceuticals. In October 2023, Milestone announced the submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for etripamil for the treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). In September 2024, JIXING announced positive results from Phase 3 JX02002 clinical trial of etripamil nasal spray in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.

For further information about our partner, Milestone Pharmaceuticals, please visit milestonepharma.com

LNZ100 (aceclidine) eye drops are being developed by LENZ Therapeutics. Aceclidine is a small molecule acetylcholine receptor agonist that causes pupil contraction, or miosis, creating a pinhole effect that improves near vision. Studies have shown that aceclidine’s mechanism of action (MOA) is well positioned to create a pinhole pupil effect while avoiding the impairment of distance vision called myopic shift. Aceclidine’s unique pupil selective MOA, in which miosis is decoupled from myopic shift, is expected to allow it to target a broad patient population.

CORXEL acquired the Greater China rights for the development and commercialization of the products in April 2022. In August 2024, CORXEL announced that the investigational ophthalmic products, LNZ100 (aceclidine) eye drops, have completed patient enrollment in a Phase 3 clinical study in China for the treatment of presbyopia.

For more information, visit: https://lenz-tx.com/