Pheno Therapeutics granted trial authorisation for MS candidate

First-in-human trial of PTD802 to commence following UK MHRA approval

Pheno Therapeutics Limited has received clinical trial authorisation (CTA) from the UK’s MHRA for its lead candidate, PTD802.

The small molecule therapeutic is designed to promote remyelination in neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS).

PTD802 is a selective GPR17 antagonist developed under an exclusive worldwide licence agreement with UCB. The programme aims to address high unmet medical needs in neurological diseases.

Demyelination in MS occurs when the immune system damages myelin sheaths around nerve fibres, leading to neurodegeneration. MS can cause a range of symptoms, progressing to severe physical and cognitive disabilities.

Professor Siddharthan Chandran, Co-Founder of Pheno Therapeutics, highlighted the need for new MS treatments. “There is an urgent need for effective therapeutics that limit disability progression in MS,” he said.

Current MS treatments mainly address the immune aspects, reducing relapses’ severity and frequency. PTD802 offers a promising neuroprotective treatment by promoting remyelination.

Pheno Therapeutics’ CEO, Fraser Murray, PhD, expressed excitement about the MHRA approval. “This approval marks our transition to a clinical stage organisation,” he stated.

Murray emphasised the company’s pioneering role in GPR17-targeting remyelination therapeutics. “We are leading the way in developing GPR17-targeting remyelination therapeutics,” he added.

The $21 million award will fund a study to analyse plasma samples over up to 10 years. This could establish an early-warning system for PD.

With the first-in-human trial of PTD802, Pheno Therapeutics moves closer to delivering transformational drugs.

Their goal is to develop treatments for neurological diseases associated with demyelination.