Akers Biosciences Inc (Nasdaq: AKER) and its proposed merger partner MyMD Pharmaceuticals Inc (MyMD), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company, declared on Tuesday that new data from a study conducted by bio-analysis company Eurofins Discovery Phenotypic Center of Excellence reported the ability of MyMD's lead compound MYMD-1 to inhibit key biomarkers associated with fibrotic diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and interstitial lung disease (ILD).

MYMD-1 is currently in development for the treatment oft autoimmune and age-related diseases, including extending the human lifespan, and has been shown to be effective in regulating the immune system in preclinical studies.

The Eurofins Discovery study reportedly indicated the potential of MYMD-1 to limit the fibrotic biology associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Hallmark activities of MYMD-1 included inhibition of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), a driver for fibrosis, as well as tumour necrosis factor (TNF), associated with inflammation. This dual pattern of anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory activities are consistent with the potential for MYMD-1 to be developed as a therapeutic candidate for fibrosis-related diseases.

This study was carried out using the BioMAP Phenotypic Screening and Profiling Platform from Eurofins Discovery, which addresses the need for translationally relevant, predictive in vitro models of human disease, including fibrosis.

MyMD stated that it plans to move forward in testing combinations of MyMD-1 with approved fibrosis drugs to determine how the agents interact to impact disease biology of IPF.