Advertise With UsAdvertise on our extensive network of industry websites and newsletters.
Get the PBR newsletterSign up to our free email to get all the latest PBR
news.Seaside Therapeutics (Seaside) has received US patent 7648993 B2 (‘993 patent), which covers methods of treating autism with group 1 antagonists of the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) pathway.
Subscribe to our email newsletter
Reportedly, an earlier related patent, US patent 6890931 B2 (‘931 patent), was issued in 2005 and covers methods of treating Fragile X Syndrome with group 1 antagonists of the mGluR pathway. Related patents have also issued in Europe (EP 1 392 363 B1) and have been allowed in Canada.
The company said that together, these patents form the foundation of Seaside’s intellectual property estate. The method of use claims in these patents reflect critical observations of the mGluR pathway and its implications in the causation of Fragile X Syndrome, autism and other disorders of brain development.
The research conducted by Mark Bear, scientific founder of Seaside Therapeutics’ has demonstrated that the mGluR5 signaling pathway is disrupted in patients with Fragile X Syndrome. The further research based on these findings has provided insight for developing new medications to normalise the function of the mGluR pathway, which Seaside believes will extend into a number of brain developmental disorders, including autism.
Randall Carpenter, president and CEO of Seaside, said: “The mGluR pathway plays a critical role in the development of Fragile X Syndrome and autism. The ‘993 autism patent and the ‘931 Fragile X patent are cornerstones in our intellectual property portfolio and support the development of targeted therapeutics that regulate the mGluR pathway to potentially correct or fundamentally alter the course of brain development and function in brain development disorders.”
The company is currently investigating two clinical stage candidates: STX209, which reduces glutamate signaling in the brain and should, thereby, indirectly inhibit excessive mGluR mediated protein synthesis; and STX107, a highly potent, selective mGluR subtype 5 antagonist.
A Phase 2 trial of STX209 in Fragile X Syndrome has completed enrollment and a second Phase 2 trial in autism spectrum disorders is actively enrolling patients. Data from both of these studies is anticipated in the first half of 2010. STX107 is in Phase 1 clinical studies in healthy volunteers and is expected to begin enrolling patients with Fragile X Syndrome in a Phase 2 study in the second half of 2010.