Excaliard has in-licensed a series of antisense oligonucleotides (ASO), from Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISIS: http://www.isispharm.com/ ) which target various genes known to regulate fibrosis and scarring. The agreement with Isis Pharmaceuticals was announced in November 2007, adding Excaliard to Isis Pharmaceuticals’ growing list of pharmaceutical partners, which currently includes Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ortho Division of Johnson & Johnson, as well as Genzyme. Excaliard anticipates early definitive proof of concept in clinical studies in 2009.

Skin scarring

Excaliard will focus its initial clinical programs on a variety of conditions associated with unsatisfactory skin scarring including but not limited to elective and reconstructive plastic surgery, traumatic wounds, Caesarian sections and various dermatologic conditions such as hypertrophic scars and keloids. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) reports that well over three million procedures were performed in the US in 2007, an increase of 142% since 1997, spending $8.3 billion. Many of these procedures result in undesirable skin scarring. Certain ethnic populations are prone to excessive skin scarring; these include individuals of Hispanic, African and Asian origin. In addition to fine line scarring, scars can be raised (hypertrophic) or even grow beyond the original site of injury (keloids). The prevalence of hypertrophic scarring has been reported to be between 15-60% for Caucasians and as high as 70% in Asian populations, creating significant and expanding market opportunities both in the USA and Worldwide. Keloids have an incidence of 1.5% in the U.S. population alone. In addition, opportunities exist related to Caesarian sections (1.3 million/yr in the US) and trauma and burn patients. Studies carried out by the Mattson Jack Group, estimate the annual U.S. market for an effective anti-skin scarring drug to be over $4 billion.

Technology

Excaliard has licensed a scarring and fibrosis program from Isis Pharmaceuticals, composed of:

  1. A series of highly evolved 2’-O-methoxyethyl (2’MOE) modified ASO inhibitors of key regulators of fibrosis. The compounds are highly selective inhibitors of genes known to be regulators of pathological scar formation and fibrosis. In a variety of models, Excaliard's drugs have demonstrated significant and reproducible reductions in scar formation.
  2. Broad, key intellectual property covering not only the specific ASOs, but also the basic technology, chemistry and manufacturing.
  3. Access to Isis Pharmaceuticals industry leading technical expertise in oligonucleotide discovery and informatics, pharmacology and toxicology.

Excaliard Business Development Goals

Excaliard is seeking partners to co-develop one or more programs in the field of scarring and fibrosis. We are particularly interested in companies who can provide us with access to, and expertise in European and Asian markets.