Agreement expands on prior deal to develop multiple compounds targeting CNS.
Synosia Therapeutics entered into a second agreement with Roche and will gain access to a new-generation 5-HT6 Phase I antagonist to be investigated for the treatment of cognitive disorders. The deal expands on a January 2007 agreement with Roche to develop five compounds targeting central nervous system disorders.
The original agreement had Synosia assume the responsibility for the clinical development of the five drug candidates and in some cases, commercialization rights in multiple indications. The compounds, which Roche had stopped developing under its reprioritization strategies, included four in Phase I studies and one in preclinical development: nepicastat, an A2a antagonist, a 5-HT6 antagonist, an IP inhibitor, and an mGluR1 enhancer.
This second agreement includes a second 5-HT6 antagonist and gives Synosia full development and commercialization rights to all of the programs. Roche will retain opt-in rights to the 5-HT6 program only.
The prior 5-HT6 antagonist is still in Phase I testing, as is the IP inhibitor for acute pain. Also, the mGluR1 agonist continues in preclinical development. The A2a antagonist has advanced into Phase II studies for Parkinson’s, and nepicastat is being evaluated in Phase II for drug dependancy and post-traumatic stress disorder.
“Our strategy of undertaking innovative, proof-of-mechanism clinical trials to explore the full potential of these molecules is working well and we expect to see data later this year,” says Ian Massey, Ph.D, CEO and president of Synosia.
Synosia has seven clinical-stage compounds in its pipeline through agreements with Roche, Novartis, and Syngenta, including compounds in late-stage Phase I and Phase II development.
