Xortx Therapeutics announces presentation of sponsored study at ASN Kidney Week

XORTX Therapeutics (XRTX) announced the acceptance of an abstract submitted to the American Society of Nephrology. The abstract entitled “Xanthine oxidase in rats, mice and humans with polycystic kidney disease” was reviewed by the ASN review panel for scientific merit and novel discoveries. The study was conducted at the University of Colorado in the independent laboratory of Dr. Charles Edelstein and was sponsored by XORTX and will be presented during the Session Title: Genetic Diseases: Cystic – Therapeutic Investigations and Prognosis. Selected results from the study include: In both Rat or Mouse models of Polycystic Kidney Disease: Use of a uricase inhibitor to increase uric acid resulted in increased cyst growth; Xanthine oxidase inhibitor – Oxypurinol – decreased serum uric acid and cyst growth; Increased XO staining in kidney and liver was abundant Prospective / Retrospective Clinical Results of the Halt Clinical Trial – Group A – Early PKD patients: Patients with increased serum uric acid had increased total kidney volume; Patients with increased serum uric acid had faster PKD progression; Increase serum XO activity was associated with an earlier onset of high blood pressure The XO enzyme is an essential enzyme within the uric acid pathway, and is required for the breakdown of purine nucleotides. Uric acid as well as reactive oxygen species released during the enzymatic reaction may also play a detrimental role in the circulatory system and within tissue during disease. Recent pioneering discoveries in rodent models of PKD implicate over expression or over activity of XO. It is currently unknown if XO over expression or over activity in humans is associated with PKD or more rapid progression of disease. The aim of the study was to gain insight into whether increased XO activity results in cyst growth, XO activity was measured in PCK1 rats, PKD1RC/RC mice and 34 patients from the HALT-PKD Clinical study. The abstract outlines study results from rat, mice and human studies of PKD. The purpose of the study was to gain and understanding of serum xanthine oxidase activity in PKD during varied stages of disease and further to relate that activity to total kidney volume, and decline of glomerular filtration rate. The results of the study provide understanding of where aberrant purine metabolism in PKD tissue due to sources XO enzyme may contribute to circulating uric acid levels, expansion rate of kidney and cyst and functional GFR decline. Prior study results suggested over expression of XO in PKD kidney tissue may be a feature of cystic disease.