Grant
Trophos SA is to receive €6.7 million over the next three years from the Association Francaise contre les Myopathies (AFM). The grant will cover the cost of further clinical development of Trophos’ lead drug candidate olesoxime (TRO19622) as a treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). This funding will support a Phase II efficacy clinical trial.
Trophos is currently finalizing the design of the trial with the European drug regulator EMEA, and it is anticipated the trial will commence around the end of this year.
“Trophos is very pleased to be renewing its long-standing strategic partnership with the AFM for the continued development of olesoxime for SMA,” said Damian Marron, CEO of Trophos. “Olesoxime is uniquely suited for development for this devastating condition, for which no treatments exist today. This program is a key part of our ongoing commitment to rare and under-served motor neuron diseases.”
Trophos has also announced that olesoxime has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the US FDA, following the earlier, similar, Orphan Medicinal Product designation by the EMEA.
Olesoxime works by enhancing the function and survival of stressed cells via modulation of dysfunctional mitochondria. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that it promotes the function and survival of neurons and other cell types under disease-relevant stress conditions.
Receive the Funding Newswire each Tuesday, our Policy Bulletin each Thursday, and news about bridging Europe’s east-west innovation gap twice a month in The Widening. 
A unique international forum for public research organisations and companies to connect their external engagement with strategic interests around their R&D system.
