Vicore Pharma is developing a new pharmaceutical concept within the renin-angiotensin system based on selective stimulation of the angiotensin II type 2 (AT₂) receptor. The company is targeting unmet medical needs in the gastrointestinal (GI) and cardiovascular (CV) areas, and in the treatment of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS)
The renin-angiotensin system (RAS), with its key mediator angiotensin II, is well established as a therapeutic target for common diseases such as hypertension, congestive heart failure and diabetic renal insufficiency. So far, the drugs available for targeting this pathway include angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonists (e.g. losartan, valsartan, irbesartan and candersartan). Use of these drugs prevents the constriction of blood vessels.

The past 10 years have witnessed a dramatic change in the way the key mediator angiotensin II is viewed. Recent evidence has pointed to the roles of at least two angiotensin II receptors, the AT1 and AT₂receptor, which seem to mediate opposite effects.

The AT₂receptor possesses several properties that make it suitable as a target for medical therapy. It is implicated in a wide range of disease conditions in different areas of the body, not only the cardiovascular system but also, for example, the GI tract and nervous system. As yet, there are no drugs available that target the AT₂receptor.

For further details about the RAS, see the 'Frequently asked questions' section.

Unmet medical needs
Vicore Pharma has identified a number of areas where there are numerous opportunities to explore its pharmaceutical platform and where the clinically most dominant are found in:

• The CV system for treatment of cardiac failure, renal failure and stroke
  
• the GI (Gastro-Intestinal) tract, with particular focus on functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 
  
• General anti-inflammatory treatment, e.g. skin diseases.

Regarding theCV area, Vicore Pharma substances have demonstrated the clinical potential of AT₂receptor agonistic drugs in the treatment of renal failure and diastolic heart failure. The results also support the concept of general cardiovascular protective features indicating broad use for large patient groups with less pronounced CV disease.

Functional dyspepsia and IBSdescribe certain abdominal symptoms located in the upper and lower GI tract, respectively, many of which lack sufficient treatment. Vicore Pharma's founders have discovered that selective stimulation of AT₂receptors increases the mucosal alkalinisation of the upper gut. This prevents mucosal acidosis and therefore has the potential to improve the symptoms of functional dyspepsia and IBS.