IND-enabling research of Parkinson’s drug candidate anticipated to conclude by the tip of the yr, aiming for medical trials in 2025.
Medical stage biotech Serina Therapeutics has finalized its merger with longevity biotech AgeX Therapeutics. With a deal with growing therapies for neurological illnesses, the mixed entity begins buying and selling right this moment on the NYSE American market below the ticker image “SER”.
The corporate’s major focus is on progressing its lead candidate, SER-252 (POZ-apomorphine), meant for the therapy of superior Parkinson’s Illness. Designed to supply steady dopaminergic stimulation, SER-252 goals to deal with limitations seen in present Parkinson’s therapies, reminiscent of levodopa-induced dyskinesias. IND-enabling preclinical research for SER-252 are anticipated to conclude by the tip of the yr and anticipates coming into Part 1 medical trials in 2025.
Headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, Serina relies on the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, the place it leverages its “POZ platform” know-how to deal with unmet medical wants in neurological illnesses and ache administration. The POZ platform relies on an artificial polymer referred to as poly(2-oxazoline), which the corporate says permits the speed of launch of connected medicine to be extra exactly managed, enabling steady drug supply over an prolonged interval. For circumstances like Parkinson’s, this might probably allow steady dopaminergic stimulation, that means that sufferers would solely require a single injection as soon as per week, slightly than the every day jabs presently required.
Past Parkinson’s, Serina goals to develop a spread of therapies concentrating on ache administration and varied central nervous system illnesses, with potential functions extending past its inner pipeline. The corporate has additionally struck a non-exclusive license settlement with Pfizer to make use of its POZ know-how in lipid nanoparticle drug (LNP) supply formulations.
Following the merger and a reverse inventory break up, the mixed entity may have roughly 10.1 million shares excellent on a totally diluted foundation, with Serina shareholders holding roughly 75% and AgeX shareholders holding roughly 25%. Serina’s CFO Steven Ledger assumes the position of interim CEO for the mixed firm.
“This merger is the fruits of years of labor on the a part of the Serina crew and permits us to maneuver our lead polyoxazoline-drug conjugate into medical trials,” mentioned Dr J Milton Harris, Serina’s Board Chair. “We’ll endeavor to advance further medical candidates, additional develop our LNP and ADC platforms, and sit up for presenting the Serina alternative to a brand new investor viewers.”
Based mostly on earlier communications from the corporate, Longevity.Expertise understands that the merger additionally contains the issuance of Publish-Merger Warrants to AgeX stockholders, together with its majority shareholder Juvenescence, which is able to inject an extra $15 million into the mixed firm.
“We couldn’t be extra excited concerning the incoming firm and its alternative on this planet of vaccines and in Parkinson’s illness,” Gregory Bailey, Chairman of Juvenescence instructed us beforehand. “We consider it’s a superb match with Richard Marshall and his crew of drug builders, and represents an ideal alternative for AgeX and Serina shareholders to unlock vital worth.”
