Spin out begins Phase 1b drug trial
16 Sep 2016 by Evoluted New Media
Autifony Therapeutics is preparing to begin its schizophrenia candidate in a pair of Phase 1b studies.
Autifony Therapeutics is preparing to begin its schizophrenia candidate in a pair of Phase 1b studies.
Spun out from GSK in 2011, the company had recently successfully completed their Phase1 clinical evaluation of AUT00206, a Kv3 modulator. Kv3 channels have been implicated in other neurological and psychiatric disorders but Autifony is targeting these potassium channels to tackle schizophrenia.
Dr Charles Large, CEO at Autifony Therapeutics, said: “We are delighted that AUT00206 is showing such a promising profile. It’s widely recognized that there is a huge unmet need for new, more efficacious and safer treatments for schizophrenia. We believe AUT00206 has the potential to be a breakthrough for patients, and we will therefore continue to seek collaborative ways to expedite development of this exciting new drug.”
There is hope that AUT00206 may have the potential to treat schizophrenia with less side effects that current drugs. Schizophrenia will affect approximately one in 100 people with most people diagnosed between the age of 15 and 35. It is usually treated with a combination of medication and therapy most appropriate to the individual. It is estimated that for a third of those with schizophrenia, current medication has little to no effect on their condition.
The Phase1b studies will take place at the University of Manchester and Kings College London. The programme is supported by the Biomedical Catalyst, an unique partnership between the Medical Research Council and Innovate UK.
Autifony Therapeutics is a company that also focuses on treating a number of hearing disorders by affecting Kv3 channels. These include age related hearing loss, tinnitus, noise induced hearing loss and cochlear implant users.
The spin out has also announced the results of its CLARITY-1 Phase IIa trial of AUT00063. This drug was trialled for effectiveness in patients suffering with age-related hearing loss. Although safe and well tolerated by those in the double-blind test, it was not found to show a beneficial effect.
