Preclinical studies initiated for MDMA-inspired analogues
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
ASX Announcement
04 Aug 2022
Preclinical studies initiated for MDMA-inspired analogues
Highlights:
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Institute of Respiratory Health (IRH) engaged to conduct human cell-line studies and
help advance Emyria’s MDMA-inspired drug discovery partnership with the University
of Western Australia (UWA)
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IRH’s preclinical program will evaluate a set of unique MDMA-inspired analogues
suggested to have “anti-fibrosis” effects, but limited neuropsychiatric action, based on
early screening results
●
Approval received from the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to transport 5 high
priority MDMA-analogues to the USA, allowing for engagement with leading US-based
research bodies and potential partners
●
Emyria and UWA continue expanding one of the world’s largest libraries of novel
MDMA-inspired analogues
Emyria Limited (ASX: EMD) (Emyria or the Company), a clinical stage biotech, is pleased to
announce the initiation of human cell-line preclinical studies to advance its MDMA-inspired
drug discovery partnership with the University of Western Australia.
MDMA (‘ecstasy’) is showing promise as an adjunct to psychotherapy for the treatment of
major unmet mental health needs (i.e “psychedelic-assisted therapy”).
Emyria aims to develop new analogues inspired by MDMA. Like MDMA, its analogues are
small, orally absorbed and central-nervous penetrating molecules that interact with a variety
of targets in the brain and peripheral tissues and therefore hold promise as new treatments
for a range of neurological and non-neurological disorders.
Emyria has created and screened over 125 MDMA-inspired analogues led by Professor
Matt Piggott in partnership with the University of Western Australia. Prof. Piggott is an
expert in medicinal chemistry and an international leader in modifying MDMA to create
novel analogues with therapeutic potential. (See ASX release 05 Aug 2021)
Based on initial screening, Emyria has identified three potential therapeutic areas for its
MDMA-inspired drug discovery program:
1.
treatments for major mental health disorders where more potent and
shorter-acting MDMA-like treatments, when given alongside psychological therapy,
may offer advantages over standard MDMA in drug-assisted therapy
2.
treatments for neurological disorders where selective neurological receptor effects
are desired and;
3.
treatments for non-neurological disorders where selective activity at peripheral
(non-brain) targets are of interest
Emyria ASX Announcement | 04 August 2022
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Preclinical studies are now commencing for leading drug candidates in each
therapeutic area. The first preclinical program will explore the antifibrotic potential of a
priority set of novel MDMA analogues.
Some compounds structurally related to MDMA are known to increase the risk of
developing heart valvulopathy (a fibrotic disorder). As a result, initial safety tests are
conducted on each new MDMA-like analogue in order to screen out compounds that pose
the greatest risk of inducing fibrosis. However, these same screens can also identify novel
compounds with the potential to address or, possibly reverse, fibrosis.
Initial screening of the MDMA analogue library identified a number of novel
compounds with potential anti-fibrotic activity. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of
these compounds further Emyria has engaged the Institute of Respiratory Health (IRH) in
Western Australia to conduct a series of human cell line assays under the leadership of
Associate Professors Steven Mutsaers and Cecilia Prêle. These assays will evaluate the
ability of the new compounds to inhibit “fibroblast to myofibroblast” differentiation and
collagen deposition in normal human lung fibroblast cell lines. These assays may reveal
potential to treat diseases involving fibrosis, the thickening or scarring of tissue. Initial
results are expected 2 months from study commencement and the project will be funded
from the payments already provided to UWA.
Emyria’s Managing Director, Dr. Michael Winlo said: “We are delighted to commence
this preclinical program with the IRH, a leading translational research group, to examine
the anti-fibrosis potential of some of our unique MDMA analogues.
Fibrotic diseases represent a major group of unmet medical needs and our early
screening results indicate some analogues may have potent antifibrotic activity.
Emyria’s New Drug Discovery Program inspired by MDMA continues to grow via our
partnership with the University of Western Australia. We now have three clear
therapeutic focus areas - fibrotic diseases, next-generation MDMA for drug-assisted
therapy and treatments for other neurological conditions - and I look forward to
updating the market on each preclinical program as it advances.”
Emyria also received notice from the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) that a set of
5 high priority compounds can be imported into the US. DEA approval is the first key step
to initiating work with US-based research institutions and partners who are exploring the
use of psychedelic-assisted therapies as innovative medical treatments. Subsequent to the
DEA approval, the team at UWA have begun scaling up the synthesis of the 5 selected
compounds to support further studies.
This announcement has been approved and authorised for release by the Board of Emyria
Limited.
For further information:
Dr. Michael Winlo
Managing Director
+61 (0) 8 6559 2800
mwinlo@emyria.com
Emyria ASX Announcement | 04 August 2022
Lexi O’Halloran
Investor Relations
+61 (0) 404 577 076
investors@emyria.com
Andrew Williams
Media Relations
+61 (0) 412 614 125
awilliams@emyria.com
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UPCOMING DRUG DEVELOPMENT MILESTONES
CLINICAL PROGRAMS
Repurposing “ultra-pure” cannabinoids
EMD-RX5
“direct-to-consumer”
program
EMD-RX7
“prescription medicine”
program
PRE-CLINICAL PROGRAM
MDMA-inspired
drug development
Formulation
optimisation
Formulation
optimisation
Screening results for first
85 compounds
Phase 1
Phase 1
First patent family filed
Ethics submitted
for Phase 3
Pre-IND (FDA)
Batch 3 sent
Phase 3
commencement
Pivotal trials
Batch 3 screening results
Regulatory
submission
Create and screen
additional batches
Commercial
strategy Australia
Metabolic studies
Commercial
strategy Europe
Preclinical assays
(multiple animal models)
Commercial
strategy USA
Human cell line assays
Lead selection
Phase 1 trials
Emyria ASX Announcement | 04 August 2022
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ABOUT EMYRIA | emyria.com
Emyria Limited is a clinical stage biotech focussed on accelerating treatment
development and improving patient care by:
1.
2.
3.
Collecting and analysing Real-World Data (RWD): Emyria gathers
ethically-sourced clinical evidence with patients across Emyria’s independent
clinical services (emeraldclinics.com.au). Emyria’s proprietary RWD provides deep
treatment and drug development insights.
Repurposing promising treatments: Emyria uses its RWD to improve the
formulations of, and find new indications for, select medications. Emyria’s first
repurposed and proprietary drug products (EMD-RX5 and EMD-RX7) incorporate
Ultra-Pure cannabinoids and are targeting global registration opportunities as
over-the-counter and prescription-only medicines.
Developing analogues of promising new compounds: Emyria collaborates with
leading institutions to develop new chemical entities inspired by promising
molecules. Emyria’s first new chemical entity program is focussed on generating
novel MDMA analogues with the potential to become registered therapies for a
range of major unmet needs.
ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR RESPIRATORY HEALTH | resphealth.com.au
The Institute for Respiratory Health has been researching lung conditions for 20 years. The
IRH is one of two institutes in the whole of Australia looking after the nation’s lungs. The
IRH:
●
●
●
Conducts and fosters innovative basic and clinical research to prevent, and better
understand respiratory conditions and improve their diagnosis and management.
Translates their research into improved treatments for people with lung disease.
Campaign in Western Australia for an increased awareness of and investment in
respiratory education and research.
CAUTIONARY NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for the
Company, the Company’s strategy, future operations, and other statements containing the words
“anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,”
“potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” and similar expressions, constitute
forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such
forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the Company’s
ability to successfully develop its product candidates and timely complete its planned clinical
programs and the Company’s ability to obtain marketing approvals for its product candidates. In
addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represents the Company’s
views as of the date hereof. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments
will cause the Company’s views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these
forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any
obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing
the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.
Emyria ASX Announcement | 04 August 2022
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