INF904 is a promising oral, low molecular weight drug development candidate that targets the C5aR receptor with high affinity and selectivity. InflaRx is targeting complement-mediated, chronic auto-immune and inflammatory conditions where an oral small molecule is the preferred route of administration for patients.
INF904 binds to an allosteric site on the C5aR1 receptor within the lipid bilayer and antagonizes the binding of C5a to block induction of the neutrophil activation. IND-enabling (preclinical) studies that demonstrated no obvious toxicological findings even in the highest dose groups in required GLP toxicity analyses have been completed. In these preclinical studies, oral INF904 showed higher plasma exposure in animals, including non-human primates, and improved inhibitory activity in a hamster neutropenia model compared to the marketed C5aR inhibitor. Anti-inflammatory therapeutic effects in several preclinical disease models were also demonstrated by INF904.
In vitro experiments showed INF904 has very low inhibition of the cytochrome P450 3A4/5 (CYP3A4/5) enzymes, which play an important role in the metabolism of a variety of drugs, including glucocorticoids.