Proteon Therapeutics Inc. announced publication of nonclinical data on PRT-201 (vonapanitase) in peripheral artery disease (PAD). This ex vivo study evaluated the effect of a single treatment of PRT-201, an investigational drug, on atherosclerotic human arteries. The positive results, published in the December issue of the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, support Proteon's clinical development program in PAD.

Proteon's Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Steven Burke, M.D., is the senior author of the published manuscript. PRT-201 has the potential to treat patients suffering from a number of renal or vascular diseases for which there currently are limited therapeutic options, including PAD. The results published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology support Proteon's ongoing Phase 1 clinical study of PRT-201, which enrolled patients with symptomatic PAD of the superficial femoral or popliteal artery.

Immediately following angioplasty, patients received PRT-201 delivered to the arterial wall via a catheter-based approach using the Mercator MedSystems Bullfrog® Micro-Infusion Device.