ABP-745 for Recurrent Pericarditis
ABP-745, a unique anti-inflammatory oral drug and an analog of Colhicine, is under development for treatment of recurrent pericarditis. Pericarditis is a rare disease caused by an inflammation of the membrane or sac surrounding the heart, known as the pericardium.
Symptoms include severe chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Approximately 160,000 patients are affected annually in the U.S. [1]. Currently, low dose of Colchicine is used for the treatment of pericarditis.
In preclinical studies, ABP-745 has demonstrated favorable inhibitory activity against multiple inflammatory cytokines associated with pericarditis. It effectively reduced IL-1β levels in pericardial effusion and levels of the inflammatory marker CRP in the blood. It also demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity superior to that of conventional doses of colchicine, which is a standard treatment for recurrent pericarditis.
In addition, ABP-745 effectively reduced inflammation and pathological damage in the pericardial tissue of animals and decreased pericardial membrane thickness.
Market Opportunity and Limitations of Existing Therapies
According to industry research data, the global recurrent pericarditis therapeutics market was valued at approximately $1.2 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $2.1 billion by 2030.
The pericarditis therapeutics has long been dominated by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in combination with colchicine as the standard first-line treatment for acute pericarditis. However, these therapies cannot completely block the mechanisms underlying disease recurrence and have significant limitations in both efficacy and safety [2].
Glucocorticoids are used as second-line rescue therapies in clinical practice, but long-term use may readily lead to steroid dependence and a significantly increased risk of recurrence. They also cause multiple systemic adverse effects, including metabolic disturbances, osteoporosis, and an increased risk of infection, substantially limiting their clinical use.
IL-1 inhibitors are used as third-line therapies but are associated with an increased risk of adverse effects such as upper respiratory tract infections.
References
- Luis SA, LeWinter MM, Magestro M, et al. Estimating the US pericarditis prevalence using national health encounter surveillance databases. Curr Med Res Opin. 2022 Aug;38(8):1385-1389.
- Chiabrando JG, Bonaventura A, Vecchié A, et al. Management of Acute and Recurrent Pericarditis: JACC State-of-the-Art Review. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 Jan 7;75(1):76-92.