Detail

Keywords

Anaphylaxis; Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals; Clinical Trial, Phase I; Drug Interactions; Endotoxemia; Research Design; Therapeutic Uses

Research group(s)

• Haematology & Immunology
  Research Area: test newly developed drugs in the immunologic and coagulation field; combining in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo trials to obtain an integrated insight into pathophysiologic processes
  Members:
  Katarina Kovacevic
  Bernd Jilma
  Matthias Weiss-Tessbach

Research interests

Our focus is to test newly developed drugs in sytemic or lung inflammation and hematologic patients. We combine in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo studies to obtain an integrated insight into pathophysiologic processes and pharmacodynamic actions of a drug. We have a strong background and interest in orphan diseases such as anaphylaxis, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and currently cold agglutinin disease. We are specialised in innovative trial designs including integrated study protocols and basket trial designs including first-in-human trials.

Techniques, methods & infrastructure

The department has got a phase I unit with 10 beds, where we perform first-in-human trials with biologics and small molecules, as well as phase I-III randomized controlled trials. We have established the human endotoxemia model to study drugs in systemic inflammation both for industry and academic purposes. Likewise we have established the endotoxin instillation into lungs in humans to investigate compartimentalized inflammatory responses and drug action. Platelet function tests including the platelet function analyzer and the multiple electrode aggregometry have been utilized in drug-drug interaction studies recently, where pharmacokinetics have been determined by tandem mass spectrometry. Thrombelastometric measurements and in vivo thrombin generation markers have been used for dose finding of novel anticoagulants and to examine specific pathophysiological changes. Flow-cytometry is used mainly to characterize in vivo changes of cellular blood components under drug treatment or inflammation.

Grants

• Pharmacodynamics of recombinant human diamine oxidase (rhDAO) (2022)
  Source of Funding: FWF (Austrian Science Fund), Stand Alone Project
  Principal Investigator
• Cellular Mediators Linking Inflammation and Thrombosis (project part leader) (2013)
  Source of Funding: FWF (Austrian Science Fund), Special Research Programmes (SFB54)
  Principal Investigator

Selected publications

1. Ay, C. et al. (2022) ‘von Willebrand Factor-binding aptamer rondoraptivon pegol as treatment for severe and non-severe hemophilia A’, Blood [Preprint]. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood.2022016571.
2. Röth, A. et al. (2021) ‘Sutimlimab in Cold Agglutinin Disease’, New England Journal of Medicine, 384(14), pp. 1323–1334. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa2027760.
3. Jäger, U. et al. (2019) ‘Inhibition of complement C1s improves severe hemolytic anemia in cold agglutinin disease: a first-in-human trial’, Blood, 133(9), pp. 893–901. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood-2018-06-856930.
4. Peyvandi, F. et al. (2016) ‘Caplacizumab for Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura’, New England Journal of Medicine, 374(6), pp. 511–522. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa1505533.
5. Hobl, E.-L. et al., 2014. Morphine Decreases Clopidogrel Concentrations and Effects. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 63(7), pp.630-635. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2013.10.068.