Sinntaxis secures option for Phase 2 -ready molecule helping patients to recover brain function after stroke
Sinntaxis announces today that it has entered into an option agreement with Acturum for an exclusive license to drug candidate AZD2066 for the development of a potentially pioneering treatment helping stroke survivors recover brain function.
AZD2066, developed by AstraZeneca, has previously undergone Phase 2 studies in patients with neuropathic pain.
There is currently no drug treatment available to help stroke patients recover brain functions. Patients are restricted to rehabilitation therapy, particularly physiotherapy and speech therapy,
It normally takes more than ten years to develop a drug based on novel science.
Sinntaxis is positive that development timeline in the field of stroke can be significantly reduced now that the company has access to a molecule that has already demonstrated satisfactory clinical pharmacokinetic properties and safety profile in Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies.
"The option to license a drug candidate that modulates the receptor, which has proven capable of recovering key brain functions after stroke in our preclinical trials, gives us a unique opportunity to develop a potentially pioneering treatment to help overcome stroke related brain damage in a time and cost effective way", says Michael Oredsson, CEO, Sinntaxis AB.
The discovery of molecules modulating the mGlur5 receptor to facilitate rehabilitation of stroke patients was made by the internationally recognized stroke researcher, Professor Tadeusz Wieloch, Sinntaxi's founder, board member and SCO. Sinntaxis has filed a patent application protecting the use of the mGlur5 NAM class of molecules in the treatment of stroke-related brain injuries.
"So far, scientists have focused on trying to protect the brain in the acute phase of stroke, which is difficult because the brain is damaged very quickly. Our experimental research shows that substances with the same mechanism of action as AZD2066, modulation of the mGlur5 receptor, can help recover lost brain functions by stimulating the healthy parts of the damaged brain. This is the still the case when treatment starts as late as a week after the stroke. "says Professor Tadeusz Wieloch, Sinntaxis AB.
Acturum AB is a company that holds rights to a number of drug candidates developed by AstraZeneca. The option agreement provides Sinntaxis with an exclusive right to receive an exclusive license for the drug candidate AZD2066 for a three-year period against compensation in the form of Sinntaxis shares.
For more information contact:
Michael Oredsson, CEO, Sinntaxis AB
Tel: 070-718 89 30
Mail: sinntaxis@gmail.com
Facts about stroke
A stroke causes blood flow to the brain to be blocked as a result of a blood clot or bleeding, causing cell death. Stroke is a growing problem, not least as a consequence of an aging population. Globally, 17 million individuals suffer a stroke annually and one third of this population will subsequently depend on institutional or home care. Stroke must be treated with surgery or thrombolysis within a few hours to restore blood flow. Less than 15 percent of stroke sufferers in prosperous countries and less than one percent in developing countries, receive such injury-reducing treatment in time.
About Sinntaxis AB
Sinntaxis is a privately owned company developing new drugs to facilitate rehabilitation of stroke patients. The company has patented its discoveries in relation to the positive effects of so-called mGlur5 modulators on the brain's ability to compensate for stroke injuries. A drug candidate, that has demonstrated good pharmacokinetic properties and a good safety profile in Phase 2 studies in another patient population, will be developed as a new potentially pioneering treatment to minimise the debilitating and often lifelong consequences of stroke. Sinntaxis plans to initiate a Phase 2 study in stroke patients in 2019/2020. The company has its head office at the SmiLe Incubator in Lund, Sweden, and is owned by, inter alia, LU Holding AB.
About Acturum AB
Acturum was formed in 2013 to manage the inheritance of AstraZeneca. The Acturum Group includes Acturum Real Estate, including Acturum Biovation, Acturum Tox and Acturum Chemicals. Acturum Development AB is the parent company of a group that develops and manages real estate and laboratories as well as research projects in life science. The company is jointly owned by FAM, the holding company of the Wallenberg Foundations and the property and construction company PEAB.