Making A Difference Through Oxalate Research

Captozyme to sponsor the OHF’s 2019 Hyperoxaluria Workshop

Seven years ago Helena Cowley, CEO of Captozyme, a Florida-based microbiome and enzyme company, attended a conference that would help shape the destiny of the company she would someday lead.

 During the 2012 Oxalosis & Hyperoxaluria Foundation (OHF) International Hyperoxaluria Workshop, a yearly educational gathering bringing together patients of rare diseases and their families, Cowley attended the keynote delivered by a mother who lost her child to a rare condition called oxalosis.  The story touched her, as well as company co-founders Aaron Cowley and Qing-Shan, and helped the trio focus their efforts on researching and developing an enzyme that could improve the lives of patients with oxalosis and hyperoxaluria.

 This year, Captozyme will participate in the 2019 OHF International Hyperoxaluria Workshop in Boston as a sponsor. Ira Klimberg, M.D., medical monitor of the recent clinical study for Ox-1, will join Cowley at the workshop and present the Captozyme clinical study results during a panel discussion on Saturday, June 22.

 “We are honored to be one of the Workshop sponsors and to do our part alongside academia and industry to further the understanding of these disease and drive progress towards treatments,” Cowley said.

 Ox-1, distributed nationwide by Captozyme’s subsidiary, Entring, LLC as Nephure, is the result of more than a decade of work. In August 2018, Captozyme sponsored the first human clinical study of the oxalate-reducing enzyme and found it effective in 94% of healthy study subjects. Study results were presented at the American Urological Association Annual Meeting in May 2019 and will be published in a peer reviewed journal later this year.

 “We are delighted to share these results with researchers, patients living with these diseases and their families. Our study confirmed the efficacy and potency of our oxalate-reducing enzyme to reduce urinary oxalate, and we believe this will be welcome news,” Dr. Klimberg remarked.

New Clinical Study Shows Promise for Dietary Management of Hyperoxaluria

A new enzyme-based product may provide much-needed support for managing hyperoxaluria through a low-oxalate diet as part of the dietary management of calcium-oxalate kidney stones, according to clinical trial results presented at the American Urology Association (AUA)’s 2019 National Meeting last week.

Ox-1 , Captozyme’s proprietary oxalate decarboxylase enzyme — marketed as NephureTM and distributed through their subsidiary, Entring LLC — significantly decreased urinary oxalate in 94% of participants, as demonstrated by the prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study of 33 healthy volunteers. Within-subject mean difference in 24-hour urinary oxalate was 12.6 mg or 30% (p<0.0001) when comparing treatment vs. baseline on a high-oxalate diet.  

 “Compliance with physician’s recommendations is imperative, but following dietary recommendations can be challenging for many individuals. A product that can help with compliance will offer value to everyone involved. We are delighted to share these results with the medical community, confirming the efficacy and potency of our oxalate-reducing enzyme to reduce urinary oxalate,” Helena Cowley, Chief Executive Officer of Captozyme Inc., said.

The clinical study, sponsored by Captozyme Inc., began in August 2018. Following screening and baseline evaluations, all study subjects were placed on a two-day high-oxalate diet lead-in, which resulted in an elevation of urinary oxalate to approximately 43mg/24 hours. Subjects were then randomized to one of two cross-over treatment sequences (Nephure™ to placebo or placebo to Nephure™) while maintaining the controlled high-oxalate, low-calcium meal plan consisting of standard Western meals with added spinach and rhubarb to provide additional levels of oxalate intake. Study subjects ate between 750 to 800 mg of oxalate and 500 to 550 mg of calcium per day and took Nephure™ or placebo three times per day for two days. At the end of the first treatment period, subjects experienced a two-day wash-out, after which they crossed over and were administered the alternate treatment.

Eight 24-hour urine collections were performed during the entirety of the study. Apart from the reduction of urinary oxalate, researchers found no other significant differences in any of the urinary parameters, including calcium, magnesium, citrate, uric acid, and creatinine, measured in the study.

“We attribute the high potency and significant reduction — despite a low dose of enzyme — to the high affinity our enzyme has to oxalate, as well as its sustained activity in the low pH of the stomach. We are excited to continue our clinical development program and further evaluate the potential of this enzyme at higher dose levels,” Helena Cowley remarked.

The clinical study will be published later this year. For more information about the clinical study or to download a summary, visit Captozyme.com/ClinicalStudy.

About Captozyme

Captozyme, Inc. is a biotechnology company developing enzymes and formulations to advance knowledge in the area of gut health and through its products, advance the health and wellness of people. Captozyme, Inc. also houses a cGMP manufacturing facility for production of Phase 1 clinical trial drug substance with a focus on live biologics development. The company is based in Gainesville, Florida. Learn more about Captozyme by visiting www.captozyme.com.

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WCE 2018: Reduction of Urinary Oxalate by Enzymatic Reduction of Dietary and Endogenous Oxalate

A recombinant version of oxalate decarboxylase, called A0, which is being developed by Captozyme, Inc could give hope to patients with oxalosis and hyperoxaluria, according to a study presented at the World Congress of Endourology (WCE) in Paris, France. This is great news for organizations such as the The Oxalosis and Hyperoxaluria Foundation, working to help these patients.

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