Our Approach
At Ocelot Bio, our approach in the treatment of liver disease is focused on improving outcomes for patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) who are impacted by the serious consequences associated with complications of portal hypertension.
Aiming to achieve a delicate balance to improve ESLD patient outcomes
At Ocelot Bio, our approach in the treatment of liver disease is focused on improving outcomes for patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) who are impacted by the serious – often life-threatening – consequences associated with complications of portal hypertension, such as hepatorenal syndrome with acute kidney injury (HRS-AKI) and ascites.
ESLD-induced portal hypertension can lead to substantial vasodilation resulting in plasma leakage throughout the abdomen and a significant drop in arterial pressure. This acute drop in arterial pressure triggers a large renal vasoconstriction response which, if left untreated, rapidly leads to renal failure. If renal failure occurs, patients often need both a liver and kidney transplant – and their probability of survival until transplant is significantly reduced.
OCE-205: Bold Science for Better Outcomes in ESLD
Ocelot Bio’s lead asset is OCE-205, a therapeutic peptide with a differentiated mechanism of action that has potential for improving outcomes for patients with complications of ESLD, including HRS-AKI and ascites.
OCE-205’s innovation emanates from its design as a mixed agonist-antagonist peptide selective for the vasopressin 1a (V1a) receptor with no vasopressin 2 (v2) receptor activity at drug concentrations well above those used in treating ESLD. By virtue of its mixed V1a agonist/antagonist activity, OCE-205 treatment is designed to relieve portal hypertension while offering a predictable, capped maximal efficacy that avoids excessive vasoconstriction seen with full agonists, which can lead to ischemic and other serious adverse events. By eliminating V2 activity at therapeutic concentrations, OCE-205 is designed to limit the potential side effects of fluid retention and overload.
Treatment with OCE-205 may achieve the desired therapeutic effects of arterial vasoconstriction, reduced portal pressure, and increased blood flow to the kidneys. This unique mechanism has the potential to lead to significant clinical improvements in patients with complications associated with cirrhosis, such as HRS-AKI and ascites.