The company

Epidyme is a drug research and development company.  Our focus is on commercial application of a specific immunomodulation technique known as Enzyme Potentiated Desensitisation (EPD), particularly in autoimmune disease.  

Epidyme was established at the beginning of 2005 as a spinout from McEwen Laboratories, a company which has for many years distributed specialist allergy treatments based on EPD.  Initial funding from a group of interested investors is expected to be sufficient to conduct our research programme through to 2007.

An initial proof-of-concept trial in a standard model of rheumatoid arthritis has shown very positive results.  Our experience with EPD in conditions related to environmentally encountered allergens shows the technique is likely to be both effective and very safe in humans.  Epidyme is engaged in further pre-clinical work and, provided outcomes are positive, expects to move to early stage clinical trials in 2008.  

Epidyme has the following unique advantages:
  • Epidyme has access to 35 years of clinical experience of using EPD treatment protocols to treat allergies.
  • EPD for allergies has an excellent safety record in the clinic, with no severe reactions reported in 35 years of clinical use involving a wide variety of allergens.  EPD for autoimmune diseases differs from its use for allergies only in the inclusion of preparations of proteins or peptides (parts of proteins) in concentrations lower than those naturally occurring in the body.
  • Through McEwen Laboratories, Epidyme has access to an existing GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) manufacturing facility and expertise in the production of the EPD enzyme component (activated beta-glucuronidase).  This is one of the two components required for rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis treatments.  As a result Epidyme can concentrate on the development of the complementary auto-antigen component (the protein within the body to which the body is mistakenly reacting).
  • Epidyme's desensitisation method is a potential treatment for all autoimmune diseases for which the auto-antigen (the protein attacked by the bodies own immune system) is already known or can be determined by research.  
  • Epidyme's specific desensitisation method should avoid compromising the normal activities of the immune system, avoiding a risk of higher susceptibility to infections.
In summary, while there is much work to do and the risks of any drug development are high, Epidyme can build on significant generic expertise gained in the past with EPD, and can focus research and development effort mainly on the novel requirements of individual autoimmune diseases, minimising risk, timescale and cost.