MapLight Therapeutics announced it has initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating ML-007, a novel therapeutic developed to target circuits understood to be dysfunctional in neurologic conditions such as schizophrenia and dyskinesias. The randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled single ascending dose study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic profile of ML-007 in up to 58 healthy adult individuals aged 18 to 45. The study is being conducted in Canada and is fully funded by MapLight.
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“We are thrilled to be moving ML-007 into the clinic,” stated Christopher Kroeger, M.D., MBA, Chief Executive Officer and Founder. “We believe this therapy has great potential to improve the lives of patients with complex neurological disorders such as dyskinesias and schizophrenia.”
ML-007 is a novel M1/M4 muscarinic agonist that acts on neurons in the basal ganglia. By utilizing a mechanism independent of the dopamine receptor, ML-007 is designed to bypass the problematic adverse effects associated with direct dopamine receptor actions. The trial is expected to complete enrollment in the first quarter of 2022.
“Currently available therapeutic options do not address the needs of patients suffering from the debilitating impacts of dyskinesias and schizophrenia, and are often encumbered by intolerable side effects,” relates MapLight Chief Medical Officer, Erin Pennock Foff, M.D., Ph.D. “This study will generate crucial data that will inform further development of ML-007, and is an exciting first step in exploring the potential of this compound.”
About ML-007
ML-007 is the second clinical program to emerge from the MapLight platform. The platform enables investigation of the specific circuits that misfire in brain disorders and identifies highly targeted therapeutics to treat them. The company is developing ML-007 for multiple indications, including schizophrenia and dyskinesias.
About MapLight Therapeutics
MapLight Therapeutics is developing targeted, highly effective therapeutics to improve the lives of those with difficult-to-treat brain disorders. Today, there are few therapeutic options for people living with conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Parkinson’s Disease, and Schizophrenia, and those therapies are limited by modest efficacy and significant side effects. MapLight is committed to redefining this standard of care. The company’s unique discovery platform combines novel, proprietary technologies to uncover the individual circuits that misfire in brain disorders and treat those circuits with effective, safe therapeutics. MapLight was founded in 2019 by a team of renowned neuroscientists who led the discovery of such groundbreaking technologies as optogenetics and STARmap. Learn more at www.maplightrx.com.