PhaseBio begins Phase I hypertension study with Vasomera

PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company, has initiated Phase I clinical study with its novel compound, Vasomera (PB1046), in patients with Stage 1 and 2 essential hypertension.

The primary objective of the placebo-controlled study is to evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic profile of single ascending doses of Vasomera administered subcutaneously to patients with essential hypertension. The double-blind trial is being conducted in the US and is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.

Vasomera is a VPAC2-selective Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) agonist which has been genetically engineered using the company’s elastin-like biopolymer (ELP) technology.

PhaseBio executive chairman and chief scientific officer Craig Rosen said Vasomera further validates the broad applicability of ELP technology to develop highly differentiated and improved biotherapeutic drugs for significant unmet medical needs.