Jerini is a pharmaceutical company, focusing on the discovery and development of novel peptide-based drugs. The company selectively pursues disease indications for which patients have limited or no treatment options and has built a drug pipeline composed of its own programs, as well as others in collaboration with established partners. 

The European Commission has granted marketing authorization for Jerini`s lead product Firazyr® (Icatibant) in the treatment of acute attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE).  The European Commission’s approval allows Jerini to market Firazyr® in the European Union’s 27 member states, making it the first product to be approved in all EU countries for the treatment of HAE.

Focus on Peptides for Drug Development

From its inception, Jerini has recognized the potential of peptides as excellent drug precursors. In the mid-nineties, the company began developing its state-of-the-art technology to identify and transform peptides into drugs. Jerini’s P2D platform combines novel peptide chemistry with state-of-the-art medicinal chemistry and computer-aided drug design. Specifically, this proprietary technology is used to develop peptidomimetics, typically administered by injection, and small molecules, normally ingested. Jerini’s drug discovery process offers notable cost and efficiency advantages, which have been instrumental in building Jerini’s current pipeline.

Product Selection Strategy

Jerini focuses on creating novel peptide-based drugs for the treatment of diseases that currently have limited treatment options. The company specifically selects disease indications that can be addressed using its expertise in peptide technology. In addition, Jerini systematically pursues target indications in which there are both acute and chronic treatment possibilities, thereby allowing for multiple product and marketing opportunities.

Pipeline

Based on its P2D platform, Jerini has established several in-house development programs addressing indications within the therapeutic areas of ophthalmology, oncology, and inflammatory disease.  Jerini’s wholly-owned US subsidiary, Jerini Ophthalmic, Inc., focuses on the further development of several ophthalmology compounds from Jerini’s pipeline.  The most advanced of these is JSM 6427, an α5β1 integrin antagonist, which has been biologically validated for therapeutic use in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 55.  Jerini Ophthalmic has begun a Phase I clinical trial to evalulate JSM 6427 and results are expected in the second half of 2008. The subsidiary will also further develop JPE-1375, a C5a receptor antagonist from Jerini’s pipeline, for the treatment of dry AMD.