Protalex, Inc. announced that preclinical data showing its lead drug candidate PRTX-100 increases blood platelet counts in a murine model of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) were published in the recent issue of the peer-reviewed journal. PRTX-100 is a highly purified form of Staphylococcal protein A (SpA), which is an immunomodulatory protein known to modify aspects of the human immune system. PRTX-100 is a new generation immunomodulatory therapy and has been granted Orphan Drug Designation as a potential treatment for ITP in both the U.S. and Europe. Protalex is currently enrolling patients into two Phase 1/2 dose-escalating studies of PRTX-100 as a potential new treatment for ITP at several sites in the U.S. (the 202 Study) and in Europe (the 203 Study) and has so far seen patients achieve a protocol-defined platelet response in the lower dose cohorts. The study compared PRTX-100 to a placebo control and to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), which is an effective first-line treatment for ITP. Study results demonstrated the ability of PRTX-100 to limit the destruction of platelets thereby raising platelet counts in mice with severe thrombocytopenia. PRTX-100 exhibits multiple immunomodulatory effects, and its previously reported ability to prevent the premature destruction of platelets provides a rationale for its use in the treatment of ITP which is further confirmed by the results provided in this publication. ITP is an autoimmune-mediated condition characterized by bruising and increased bleeding as a result of immune-mediated accelerated destruction of platelets and impaired production of platelets. The diagnosis of ITP is based upon a low platelet count, usually less than 100,000 per microliter of blood, in the absence of other possible causes of reduced platelet numbers such as an underlying illness or medication. The two most recently approved drugs used to treat ITP, Nplate® (romiplostim) and Promacta®/Revolade™ (eltrombopag), both increase the production of platelets but do not appear to affect the underlying platelet destruction process.