Sinntaxis has signed an option deal with Acturum regarding an exclusive license for the drug candidate AZD2066.

The phase II ready molecule (mGluR5 antagonist) could enhance recovery of brain functions after stroke. It was first developed by AstraZeneca and has previously been studied in clinical phase II patients with neuropathic pain. The company now hopes that the development time will be shorter for this indications due to the fact that the compound has shown satisfactory clinical and pharmacological attributes and safety profile in phase I and II.

”The option to in-license a drug candidate that modulates this specific receptor, which in pre-clinical studies has shown to restore important functions after a stroke, gives us an unique opportunity to cost and time efficiently develop a potentially groundbreaking treatment against stroke related brain damages,” says Michael Oredsson, CEO, Sinntaxis AB.

Exclusive license

Acturum has now granted Sinntaxis an option to during a three year period exclusively license the asset for use in the treatment of stroke patients and Acturum obtains compensation in the form of shares in the company.

“Our experimental research shows that substances with the same mechanism of action as AZD2066, modulation of the mGluR5 receptor, can help recover lost brain functions by stimulating the healthy parts of the damaged brain. This is the still the case when treatment starts as late as a week after the stroke,” Tadeusz Wieloch, the founder of Sinntaxis, said in a statement.

In 2013 AstraZeneca transferred the asset to Acturum as part of its retreat from internal neuroscience research and exit of a Swedish R&D site.