RTU-009

RTU-009 is an investigational small-molecule inhibitor of vascular adhesion protein 1 (VAP-1), originally developed by R-Tech Ueno and later incorporated into Sucampo/Mallinckrodt’s VAP-1 inhibitor research programme for inflammatory and ischemic indications.[1][3][7][11][13] By blocking VAP-1, an endothelial adhesion molecule with amine oxidase activity that mediates leukocyte recruitment and vascular inflammation, RTU-009 is designed to exert anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in acute cerebral infarction (ischemic stroke), where it has shown efficacy comparable to edaravone and additional benefit in combination with tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) in animal stroke models.[1][9] The drug has been developed specifically as an injectable formulation for acute stroke, while an oral VAP-1 inhibitor (RTU-1096) targets chronic inflammatory/immune-related disorders, and RTU-009 has remained at the preclinical stage with development activities focused on IND-enabling studies in Japan.[1][3][7][11][13]