Conduit Pharmaceuticals Partners with Charles River to Advance Repurposed Diabetes Drug for Lupus Treatment

Conduit Pharmaceuticals has announced a collaboration with Charles River Laboratories to bolster the preclinical development of its repurposed diabetes drug candidate, AZD1656, for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This strategic partnership aims to generate crucial data to guide the design of an upcoming phase 2 clinical trial in lupus patients.

Preclinical Study to Inform Phase 2 Trial Design

The collaboration will focus on testing AZD1656 in a preclinical model of SLE, with the primary goal of studying the drug's effects on disease progression and known markers of inflammation. While the specific model was not disclosed, Charles River is known to offer an NZB/W mouse model for SLE studies, which may be utilized in this research.

David Tapolczay, Ph.D., CEO of Conduit, emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating, "Charles River's expertise in immunology and research will provide Conduit with critical insights and allow us to refine our study design, improve the quality of our data and ultimately increase the likelihood of clinical success."

AZD1656: From Diabetes to Autoimmune Diseases

AZD1656, a glucokinase activator, was originally developed by AstraZeneca for type 2 diabetes. The compound underwent a phase 2 study involving 530 diabetes patients over a decade ago. In August 2024, Conduit licensed AZD1656 from AstraZeneca, along with two other assets, gaining exclusive rights to develop the drug for all human indications.

Following the acquisition, Conduit swiftly announced plans to repurpose AZD1656 for lupus and ANCA-associated vasculitis. The company has also combined AZD1656 with another compound to create CDT1656, a new asset specifically targeted at autoimmune diseases characterized by dysregulated T cells.

Conduit's Business Model and Future Prospects

Conduit's business strategy revolves around acquiring phase 2-ready assets, advancing them through mid-stage development, and then seeking licensing deals for exit. The collaboration with Charles River is expected to not only optimize the phase 2 trial design for AZD1656 in lupus but also enhance the asset's value for potential out-licensing opportunities.

As Conduit prepares to enter phase 2 trials for AZD1656 in lupus, the pharmaceutical industry will be watching closely to see if this repurposed diabetes drug can offer new hope for patients suffering from this chronic autoimmune condition, which causes a range of debilitating symptoms including joint pain, fatigue, and malaise.