S-pindolol benzoate (ACM-001.1)

S-pindolol has been described as an anabolic/catabolic transforming agent, or ACTA1. A clinical development programme for our new salt of S-pindolol, S-pindolol benzoate (ACM-001.1), is underway. Actimed conducted a Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) study (NCT06028321) of S-pindolol benzoate to characterise this new form. This was published in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle in December 2024.

Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Bioavailability of ACM-001.1 (S-Pindolol Benzoate) in Healthy Volunteers. Misselwitz, F., Henderson, D., Menakuru, S., Morten, E., Roe, C., Whitaker, G., Wohlfeil, S. and McDermott, J. (2024). The publication may be accessed here.

Following this successful PK/PD study, a Phase 2b/3 clinical development programme, the IMPACT Programme (Improving cancer cachexia with ACTAs), is in planning to confirm and expand upon the positive results demonstrated in an exploratory proof of concept Phase 2a trial for S-pindolol, (ACT-ONE2).

The IMPACT Programme will consist of two trials with identical design: one in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the other in colorectal cancer (CRC), both groups with a diagnosis of cachexia. The studies will respectively be designated IMPACT-NSCLC and IMPACT-CRC.

Actimed received FDA approval of its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the IMPACT Programme in August 2023. The Company plans to dose the first patients in 2025.

 

Mode of action

S-pindolol (ACM-001) is an anabolic/catabolic transforming agent with a multifunctional effect on three key pharmacological targets relevant for cancer cachexia:

•  Reduction of catabolism by β-1 receptor antagonism3,4,5

•  Increased anabolism and muscle growth, through partial β2 receptor agonism1

•  Improvement in appetite and fatigue via central 5-HT1a antagonism6,7,8,9,10,11

This trio of anti-catabolic and pro-anabolic pharmacology makes S-pindolol benzoate (ACM-001.1) a highly promising candidate for development in cancer cachexia.

 

 

 

 

Clinical data

The ACT-ONE Phase II clinical study of S-pindolol (ACM-001) was a proof of concept exploratory, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 87 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or colorectal cancer (CRC). The trial demonstrated that S-pindolol (ACM-001) was well-tolerated and that patients receiving high-dose S-pindolol (ACM-001) showed a median weight gain of 2.74kg compared to a median 1.09kg weight loss in patients receiving placebo over a 4-month period2.

Patients receiving S-pindolol (ACM-001) also demonstrated improved hand-grip strength.

Actimed completed a pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) study (NCT06028321) in 2022 of S-pindolol benzoate (ACM-001.1). The study was conducted in healthy subjects in two parts. It compared S-pindolol benzoate to racemic pindolol and investigated PK across a range of doses of S-pindolol benzoate. The study successfully met all objectives including demonstrating an absence of in vivo stereo-conversion (from S-pindolol to R-pindolol) and also demonstrated that S-pindolol was essentially bioequivalent to the S-pindolol present in racemic pindolol with dose-dependent pharmacokinetics after single and multiple doses. This study is a prelude to the Phase 2b/3 IMPACT clinical programme in patients with cancer cachexia. 

 

Patent portfolio

Actimed has built an extensive IP portfolio that provides robust intellectual property protection supporting Actimed’s lead asset, ACM001.1 (S-pindolol benzoate).

In May 2022, Actimed obtained a UK patent (GB 2593902 B) covering new salts of S-pindolol including lead compound ACM-001.1 (S-pindolol benzoate) for use in the treatment or prevention of cachexia with an expiry date in 2040. 

Additionally, in 2024, Actimed received patent grants from the European Patent Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. European Patent EP 4132909 B covers a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of S-pindolol and benzoic acid, with expiry in 2041. US Patent US 12,109,192 B covers the two preferred crystalline forms of S-pindolol benzoate, with expiry in 2041.

 

Reference

1Pötsch MS, Tschirner A, Palus S, von Haehling S, Doehner W, Beadle J, Coats AJ, Anker SD, Springer J. The anabolic catabolic transforming agent (ACTA) espindolol increases muscle mass and decreases fat mass in old rats. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle.. 2014 Jun;5(2):149-58

2A Coats et al Espindolol for treatment and prevention of cachexia: the ACT-ONE trial. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2016; 7: 355–365

3Clark BJ and Bertholet A. (1983). Effects of pindolol on vascular smooth muscle. Gen. Pharmacol.; 14: 117-119

4Jeppsson AB, Johansson U and Waldeck B. (1984). Steric aspects of agonism and antagonism at betaadrenoreceptors: experiements with the enantiomers of terbutaline and pindolol. Act. Pharmacol. Toxicol
(Copenh).; 54(4): 285-291

5Boucher M, Duchene-Marullaz P and Moundanga JL. (1986). Studies on the stereoisomers of betaadrenoreceptor
antagonists in conscious A-V blocked dogs. Br. J. Pharmacol.; 89(1): 119-127

6Newman-Tancredi A, Chaput C, Gavaudan S, Verriele L, Millan MJ. Agonist and antagonist actions of (-) pindolol, at recombinant, human serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) receptors.  Neuropsychopharmacology. 1998  May; 18(5):395-398

7Andree B, Thorburg SO, Halldin C, Farde L. Pindolol binding to 5-HT1a receptors in the human brain confirmed with positron emission tomography. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1999 June; 144(3) 303-305

8Martinez D, Hwang D, Mawlawi O, Slifstein M, Kent J, Simpson N, Parsey RV, Hashimoto T, Huang Y, Shinn A, Van Heertum R, Abi-Dargham A, Caltabiano S, Malizia A, Cowley H, Mann JJ, Laruelle M. Differential occupancy of somatodendritic and postsynaptic 5HT(1A) receptors by pindolol: a dose-occupancy study with [11C]WAY 100635 and positron emission tomography in humans. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2001 Mar;24(3):209-29

9Castro ME, Harrison PJ, Pazos A, Sharp T. Affinity of (+/-)-pindolol, (-)-penbutolol, and (-)-tertatolol for pre- and postsynaptic serotonin 5-HT(1A) receptors in human and rat brain. J Neurochem. 2000 Aug;75(2):755-62

10Yan H and Lewander T. Differential tissue distribution of the enantiomers of racemic pindolol in the rat. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 1999 Dec; 10(1): 59-62

11Olver Js, Cryan JF, Burrows GD, Norman TR. Pindolol augmentation of antidepressants: a review and rationale. Aust. NZ. J. Psychiatry 2000 Feb;34 (1): 71-79