Lundbeck starts Phase 2; Rewind secures funding; Beactica picks a degrader

Lundbeck starts Phase 2 Parkinson’s trial. Lundbeck has begun Phase 2 testing of Lu AF28996 after an open-label Phase 1b study suggested improved motor control in advanced Parkinson’s disease. Among 34 participants treated for six weeks, daily time with good symptom control and without troublesome involuntary movements increased by 3.6 hours, alongside reduced levodopa use. Most adverse events were mild, with nausea, dizziness and falls the most common. The oral dopamine receptor agonist could help address persistent motor fluctuations, but efficacy requires confirmation. The placebo-controlled DARE2 trial will enroll approximately 150 adults. Go deeper.

Rewind funds its myelin-repair program. Belgium’s Rewind Therapeutics has secured additional financing to advance its oral GPR17 antagonist toward human testing, without disclosing the amount or participating investors. The program aims to restore myelin, the protective coating around nerve fibers damaged in multiple sclerosis (MS). Research published in July showed accelerated myelin repair and improved nerve conduction and spatial memory in animal models. Existing MS treatments control inflammation but do not specifically restore lost myelin. The funding will support studies required before clinical trials. Go deeper.

Beactica advances a TEAD degrader. Sweden’s Beactica Therapeutics has selected BEA-28 for further preclinical development. The compound destroys TEAD proteins involved in tumor growth and treatment resistance. Beactica reported tumor regression in mouse models of mesothelioma and KRAS-mutant lung cancer, plus restored sensitivity to KRAS inhibitors in resistant cellular models. The company plans biomarker-guided development and combinations with other cancer treatments. Next steps include preliminary toxicology, manufacturing scale-up and formulation work; human testing remains ahead. Go deeper.

Neurosterix prepares schizophrenia drug for Phase 2. Addex spinout Neurosterix has completed Phase 1 studies of NTX-253 and plans Phase 2 development for schizophrenia. The oral candidate enhances muscarinic M4 receptor signaling, an approach distinct from traditional dopamine-blocking antipsychotics. The studies included healthy volunteers and stable schizophrenia patients, but detailed safety or efficacy results were not disclosed. Muscarinic targeting gained validation with Cobenfy’s FDA approval in 2024, although NTX-253 uses a different strategy. Addex retains a 20% stake in Neurosterix, which launched with $65 million in 2024. Go deeper.

iOnctura details roginolisib’s mechanism and early clinical findings. iOnctura has announced two Nature Communications papers explaining how roginolisib locks PI3Kδ in an inactive state and detailing its first-in-human results. Earlier inhibitors of this cancer-associated enzyme have faced tolerability problems. Among 44 patients with advanced cancers, no dose-limiting toxicities were reported; three experienced treatment-related adverse events of grade 3 or higher. Survival findings in metastatic uveal melanoma were encouraging, but historical comparisons cannot establish efficacy. Fully enrolled randomized Phase 2 trials in that disease and lung cancer should provide stronger evidence. Go deeper.

Coave reports primate data for wet AMD gene therapy. Paris-based Coave Therapeutics has reported primate data supporting CoTx-101, its preclinical gene therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration. Its modified AAV vector achieved up to 120 times higher expression in retinal and adjacent tissues than comparator capsids. A separate study showed delivery of aflibercept at levels Coave described as clinically meaningful. CoTx-101 is designed to inhibit both VEGF and angiopoietin-2, with the goal of reducing repeated eye injections through sustained therapeutic protein production. Safety, durability and vision benefits remain untested in humans. Go deeper.