Az 121 is the naturally occurring, full sequence C-reactive protein. Drs. Du Clos and Mold and their team have published extensively on their work with naturally occurring C-reactive protein in animal models of nephritis. In mouse models of nephritis, they have shown

• systemic suppression of autoimmunity
• rapid reversal of nephritis parameters
• significant kidney function improvement
• significant survival benefit

These benefits, shown after a single dose of CRP, persist long after the CRP has been cleared suggesting the induction of a self-sustained regulatory response.

An example of data from a study in NZB/NZW mice is shown here (1). Administered early in the development of nephritis in these mice, CRP prevented the high level of proteinuria shown in the controls and, when administered after development of nephritis, actually reversed the level of proteinuria.

(2)

Az 175 is one of two recently designed CRP mutants that have different FcγR specificities(2). The mutant proteins are currently being compared with respect to potency to human CRP and wild type recombinant CRP.

(1)  Rodriguez, et al.  Arthritis Rheum. 55(2) 642-50, 2005.  

(2)   Lu J, et al. Nature. 456(7224):989-92. 2008.