MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Nov. 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ChemoCentryx, Inc., (NASDAQ:CCXI), today announced presentations of its lead drug candidates avacopan, a complement 5a receptor inhibitor, and CCX140, an inhibitor of the chemokine receptor known as CCR2, during the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2019, the world's premier nephrology meeting, being held November 5-10, 2019 in Washington, DC.

CCR2 Inhibition Improves Glomerular Ultrastructure In Vivo in Models of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)

Non-Canonical Expression of CCR2 on Renal Progenitor Cells and Activated Parietal Epithelial Cells: Key to Therapeutic Effect of CCR2 Inhibition in CKD?

This presentation will highlight the first report of the presence of CCR2 on non-hematopoietic renal parenchymal cells. The non-canonical CCR2+ cells are positive for CD133, CD24, and CD44 consistent with their being renal progenitor cells and activated PECs. These populations are markedly upregulated during kidney injury. These cells may be the targets of the CCR2 inhibitors that have been shown to be efficacious in murine models of CKD, as well as in human DN patients. CCR2 antagonism represents a novel approach for the treatment of CKD, including FSGS, and these studies are an important step in understanding the mechanism of their therapeutic benefit.

LUMINA-1: A Randomized, Controlled, Dose-Ranging Study in Patients with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis Treated with CCX140, an Inhibitor of the Chemokine Receptor CCR2

Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of C5aR Inhibitor Avacopan (CCX168) in Patients with Complement 3 Glomerulopathy: A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 2 Study

This informational poster will highlight the study design, outcome measures, and baseline patient data for ChemoCentryx's ACCOLADE trial in C3G, one of the largest randomized controlled trials in this disease, ACCOLADE will measure the effects of 26 and 52 weeks of treatment with avacopan on the C3G Histologic Index, as assessed by renal biopsy and on reduction in proteinuria as measured by UPCR as compared to placebo.

Avacopan is an orally-administered small molecule that is a selective inhibitor of the complement C5a receptor, or C5aR. Avacopan is in Phase III development for the treatment of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic auto-antibody-associated vasculitis (ANCA-associated Vasculitis). In clinical studies to date, avacopan was shown to be safe, well tolerated and provided effective control of the disease while allowing elimination of high-dose steroids, part of the current standard of care. ChemoCentryx is also developing avacopan for the treatment of patients with C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted avacopan orphan-drug designation for ANCA-associated Vasculitis, C3G and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). The European Commission has granted orphan medicinal product designation for avacopan for the treatment of two forms of ANCA-associated Vasculitis: microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly known as Wegener's granulomatosis), as well as for C3G. Avacopan was also granted access to the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) PRIority MEdicines (PRIME) initiative, which supports accelerated assessment of investigational therapies addressing unmet medical need.

ChemoCentryx cautions that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Words such as "may," "could," "will," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "predict," "seek," "contemplate," "potential," "continue" or "project" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include the Company's statements regarding the achievement of anticipated goals and milestones, when clinical data might become available or be released, whether avacopan and CCX140 will be commercialized, and whether the Company's drug candidates will be shown to be effective in ongoing or future clinical trials. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by ChemoCentryx that any of its plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in the ChemoCentryx business and other risks described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").  Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and ChemoCentryx undertakes no obligation to revise or update this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Further information regarding these and other risks is included under the heading "Risk Factors" in ChemoCentryx's periodic reports filed with the SEC, including ChemoCentryx's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 11, 2019 and its other reports which are available from the SEC's website (www.sec.gov) and on ChemoCentryx's website (www.chemocentryx.com) under the heading "Investors." All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.