For decades, epilepsy treatment has focused on stopping seizures, but for the third of patients whose seizures resist existing medicines, that approach is not enough. As genetics, neural circuits, and cell therapies reshape the field, epilepsy is being redefined as many diseases with deeper biological roots.
The French biopharmaceutical company, PLL Therapeutics, announced positive results from a phase I/II clinical trial for its investigational therapy PLL001 to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes degeneration of motor neurons and loss of muscle control.
Newron Pharmaceuticals has secured up to €38mn to advance Phase III trials of evenamide, a drug that, if successful, could represent one of the first circuit-modulating therapies in schizophrenia.
In a US$450m deal with UK-based Kaerus Bioscience Ltd, Servier SA has acquired the development and commercialisation rights to KER-0193, a Phase II-ready drug candidate for the treatment of rare Fragile X syndrome, the most common monogenic cause of autism.
French targeted DNA gene therapy specialist EG427 has closed a €27m Series B financing co-led by VC investor Andera Partners and BPI France to initiate Phase I testing of a Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (nrHSV-1) vector that specifically targets type C neurons to suppress dysfunctions of the bladder in people with spinal injury.
Nxera Pharma Ltd has got a Phase II milestone from US licencor Neurocrine Biosciences for its first-in class oral schizophrenia candidate NBI-1117568.
Evotec SE has reached a predefined milestone worth €20m in the CRO’s partnership with Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS).
ALS specialist NeuroSense Therapeutics Ltd announces it will be collaborating with Swiss Lonza AG to identify exosome-based biomarkers to advance theranostics in neurodegeneration.
Spanish Ferrer Internacional, SA has aquired the ex-US rights to VRG50635 from Verge Genomics Inc to commercialise the oral Phase I experimental ALS treatment.
University of Sheffield spinout gets £5m for gene therapies targeting ALS and FTD, advancing towards clinical trials.
FRAXA Ewsearch Organisation
EG 427
Nxtera Pharma Ltd