GUILFORD, Conn., April 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Invea Therapeutics (Invea), a biotechnology company developing an artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) powered pipeline of potentially transformational medicines for highly debilitating immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), today announced the acceptance of two abstracts for oral presentations at the upcoming Digestive Disease Week (DDW) Annual Meeting. DDW is the world’s premier meeting for physicians, researchers, and industry in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy, and gastrointestinal surgery, which will take place in Chicago, IL, on May 6-9, 2023.

Dr. Salvatore Alesci, MD, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Invea Therapeutics, will present on the application of AI and ML to the discovery of INVA8001, a highly selective and potent mast cell chymase inhibitor, and candidate therapeutic for immune-mediated inflammatory disorders driven by dysregulation of the gutbrain-liver axis (GBLA).

Dr. Jessie Bernard, Ph.D., a member of the team headed by Dr. Heather Francis, Ph.D., Professor, Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Department of Medicine, at the Indiana University School of Medicine, will present preclinical data supporting the potential benefits of Invea’s INVA8001 for the treatment of liver diseases.

“Mast cells are a key component of the innate immune system and are present in mucosal and epithelial tissues throughout the body, including the GI tract, liver, and skin. Chymase, a mast cell activation mediator, plays a crucial role in various pathophysiological processes, including epithelial barrier damage, inflammatory response, and fibrosis. As such, INVA8001 has the potential to counteract chronic inflammation, its associated symptoms and complications in a variety of GI and extra-GI disorders. With demonstrated preclinical and human safety, INVA8001 is poised to enter the clinic for human proof of concept studies in the first half of 2024,” said Salvatore Alesci, MD, Ph.D., the Chief Scientific Officer at Invea Therapeutics.

Sameer Sharma, M.Pharm., Ph.D., Vice President, and Head of Translational Research at Invea Therapeutics, added, “Our AI and ML processes have
demonstrated greater scalability and de-risking of the target and drug discovery process for IMIDs as is seen with our pipeline of candidates. We have developed a robust ecosystem that leverages AI and ML technology to bridge the translational gap from basic research to association with clinical endpoints to prioritization of clinic-ready programs with what we believe are de-risked profiles and a higher probability of success. We have tested INVA8001 in various preclinical models for mast cell-driven disorders and are excited to see the next stages of development for this program.”