Hofseth Biocare ASA: New study highlights the potential of OmeGo® as a prophylactic therapy for Asthma and COPD
01 September 2020 - 12:49PM
An in-vitro study published in the journal Functional Foods in
Health and Disease (2020; 10(8):357-367) shows the therapeutic
potential of HBC’s OmeGo® salmon oil for the treatment of certain
types of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD,
also known as “smokers’ lung”) via the modulation of eosinophil
effector function.
Eosinophils are white blood cells (leukocytes) which form part
of the body’s immune system helping to deal with infections.
However, overactivity of eosinophils is seen in numerous
inflammatory conditions including eosinophilic asthma. Poorly
controlled inflammation reduces lung function and increases the
risk of asthma exacerbations and hospitalisation.
This in-vitro study investigated the prophylactic effect of
HBC’s enzymatically extracted salmon oil, OmeGo®, as a proxy for
eating fresh whole oily fish, on eosinophil function using allergic
human peripheral blood eosinophils.
The results of the study show that prophylactic treatment of
allergic human peripheral blood eosinophils with OmeGo® modulates
eosinophil effector function (measured via shape change assay and
integrin expression) and increases apoptosis (programmed cell
death). The eosinophil inhibition with OmeGo® was comparable to
APOA-IV (active control) and markedly better than processed salmon
oil. Krill oil and standard fish oil showed no to low eosinophil
modulation. This indicates that a non-Omega fraction in OmeGo®
provides this targeted action of modulating eosinophil function and
that this fraction is mostly destroyed in processed salmon oil and
absent in Krill oil and standard “18/12” fish oil.
Pre-clinical work with OmeGo® targeting eosinophil effector
function is ongoing with guinea pig dosing studies and house dust
mite studies. Human studies in eosinophilic asthma are planned to
commence in 2021. A phase 2/3 trial (NCT04465513) of OmeGo® in the
treatment of eosinophilic COVID-19 patients is ongoing and interim
results are expected during Q4 2020. The trial is randomising
patients with early Covid-19 pulmonary symptoms to best standard of
care (BSC) vs BSC and OmeGo® CARDIO soft gels to prevent disease
progression to severe respiratory distress. The primary endpoint is
the number of days on assisted ventilation.
About 7-8% of the population suffer from asthma. Eosinophils are
estimated to be important drivers of asthma in up to 40% of
asthmatics overall and in up to 60% of patients with severe asthma.
Inhaled bronchodilators (“relievers”), which expand the airways in
the lungs, and inhaled corticosteroids, which reduce airway
inflammation, are a mainstay of asthma treatment. However, a
significant number of patients still suffer from asthma symptoms
and exacerbations and are commonly referred to as steroid treatment
resistant asthma patients, typically the result of eosinophil
dysfunction. Additional treatment options targeting the underlying
asthma disease process, especially those delivered orally, would be
of significant benefit to patients struggling to gain adequate
asthma control from standard therapy.
About OmeGo®
OmeGo® contains the full spectrum of omega fatty acids including
EPA, DHA and DPA offering benefits on human cholesterol levels
including reduction of the CVD biomarker, oxLDL-GP1, for which HBC
has global patent rights. Only OmeGo® contains all the
lipid-soluble compounds found in fresh salmonid fish thus providing
all of the health benefits seen when consuming an oily fish-based
diet. HBC uses its proprietary enzymatic hydrolysis technology to
sustainably extract all the nutrients from the fish and transforms
them into high value health products for human and pet
consumption
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a type of
obstructive lung disease characterized by long-term breathing
problems and poor airflow. It is most commonly caused by smoking.
The main symptoms include shortness of breath and cough with sputum
production. COPD is a progressive disease, meaning it typically
worsens over time. As well as its progressive nature patients
suffer acute exacerbations with a sudden worsening of symptoms and
associated increased lung inflammation. Around 20%-40% of COPD
patients have raised blood eosinophils.
The full article from the Functional Foods in Health and Disease
journal is attached.
For further information, please contact:
James Berger, Head of Investor Relations & Strategy at
Hofseth BioCare ASA Phone: +41 79 950 1034 E-mail:
jb@hofsethbiocare.no
Dr. Crawford Currie, Medical R&D at Hofseth BioCare ASA
Phone: +44 7968 195497 E-mail: cc@hofsethbiocare.no
About Hofseth BioCare ASA:
HBC is a Norwegian biotech company that develops high-value
ingredients and finished products. The ingredients are in various
stages of discovery and preclinical development in collaboration
with multiple clinics and university research labs in several
countries. Lead preclinical and clinical candidates are in
development toward treatment for iron-deficiency anemia,
Gastro-Intestinal Inflammation (NEC/IBS/UC), prediabetes,
age-related sarcopenia and osteoarthritis.
The company is founded on the core values of sustainability,
traceability and optimal utilization of natural resources. Through
an innovative hydrolysis technology, HBC can preserve the quality
of lipids, proteins and calcium from fresh salmon off-cuts. Hofseth
BioCare's headquarters are in Ålesund, Norway with branches in
Oslo, London, Zürich, Chicago, Menlo Park and Tokyo.
HBC is listed on Oslo Stock Exchange Axess list with ticker
"HBC". More information about Hofseth BioCare at hofsethbiocare.com
and facebook.com/hofsethbiocare
- Study modulation of eosinophil effector function FFHD