#51: AMY109 and The Journey to Ending Endo with Dr. Ayako Nishimoto-Kakiuchi

Hello Uterus

This might be the most exciting episode yet! We’re watching medical history unfold all the way from Japan.

Are we on the path to having a non-hormonal therapy for halting the progression of and potentially reversing endometriosis?

We are so honored to be joined by Dr. Ayako Nishimoto-Kakiuchi from Chugai Pharmaceuticals, which is the team behind this research. Dr. Ayako introduces us to the anti-IL-8 recycling antibody developed by the Chugai team called AMY109.

As with all clinical trials, there are hurdles and timelines, but we're grateful for research being done to find a possible solution for endometriosis patients.

Important disclaimer: Right now, the absolute gold standard for treating endometriosis is excision surgery by a well-trained, experienced endometriosis surgeon. Excision has brought many endo sufferers relief — but it is a highly complex surgery, invasive, and is hard to come by. There are few excision surgeons that specialize in treating endometriosis. It requires a multi-disciplinary team when the disease has spread outside the pelvis, and requires extensive experience and training that goes beyond the education received in med + surgical school.

Alternative, safe treatments that don't involve hormonal suppression or minimally invasive surgery would be a huge advancement.

During this episode, we dive into what role IL-8 plays in the progression of endometriosis, how AMY109 can inhibit it, what other conditions AMY109 could be effective for, and what current data from clinical trials look like.

Thank you to everyone working hard at Chugai to create a better future for uterinekind! We’re all cheering you on!

Lastly, we end on a high note full of love! Congrats to Mr. and Mrs. Pickles! 🐢

Thanks for listening, learning, and being you. And join us back here every Tuesday for all things uterus, in service to you, uterinekind.

Links:

Gel nail polish article: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/you-guessed-right-gel-nail-polish-is-bad-for-your-nails/

Research publication on Chugai's AMY109: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36812343/