Seaside Therapeutics Awarded Grant From Autism Speaks to Evaluate Therapeutic Potential of Proprietary mGluR5 Antagonists in Animal Models of Autism
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 19 /PRNewswire/ — Seaside Therapeutics, in collaboration with the Baylor College of Medicine, is pleased to announce acceptance of an Autism Speaks grant award to assess efficacy of mGluR5 antagonists as a treatment for autism.
“We are proud to receive recognition and funding from the scientific advisors and leadership of this respected organization,” said Randall Carpenter, MD, co-Founder, President and CEO of Seaside Therapeutics. “I would personally like to thank Autism Speaks for supporting our efforts to develop novel treatments designed to specifically normalize brain development and behavior in individuals with autism. This award will support research performed in collaboration with Richard Paylor, Ph.D. to assess efficacy of our lead compound, STX107, for treating abnormal behaviors observed in animal models of autism. STX107 is a selective mGluR5 antagonist licensed from Merck & Co., Inc. Seaside Therapeutics is currently performing the safety studies required to begin testing in humans. STX107 has already demonstrated profound efficacy for some symptoms of autism and the studies funded by this grant will provide insight regarding the potential to treat the core behavioral symptoms of autism.”
Dr. Paylor’s laboratory at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas will assess the efficacy of Seaside’s mGluR5 antagonists in mice genetically engineered to exhibit ‘autistic-like’ behaviors including: abnormalities in social interaction, compulsive behaviors and anxiety-related responses.
“Recent studies have demonstrated that mGluR5 antagonists can effectively treat abnormalities in brain cell function, seizures and learning in animal models of autism. It is our hypothesis that mGluR5 antagonists will similarly improve autistic-like behaviors,” said Dr. Richard Paylor, Associate Professor, Baylor College of Medicine.
Please visit http://www.seasidetherapeutics.com/ for more information on our company and drug development programs.
About Seaside Therapeutics
Seaside Therapeutics was founded to translate exciting new brain research, including the promising discoveries of Scientific Founder, Professor Mark Bear, into effective therapeutics for patients with disorders of brain development such as fragile X syndrome and autism. Dr. Bear, Picower Professor Neuroscience at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, discovered a link between genetic mutations found in individuals with fragile X syndrome, a specific genetic disorder of brain development, and dysfunction in the metabotropic glutamate (mGluR) neurotransmitter system. Independent international researchers have confirmed that genetic and pharmacologic interventions targeting specific mGluR receptors normalize brain development and behavior in animal models, thus validating the “mGluR theory of fragile X.” Our lead selective mGluR5 antagonist was licensed from Merck Pharmaceuticals, is in advanced stages of preclinical development and has demonstrated profound efficacy in animal models of fragile X, thus providing compelling justification for advancing this novel treatment into human trials.
About Paylor Lab at Baylor College of Medicine
The Paylor lab utilizes mouse genetic models of behavioral abnormalities to better understand mental retardation and developmental disorders. The overall goal of the Paylor lab is to model human developmental disorders to gain important insights into potential mechanisms that underlie various behavioral abnormalities. In addition, we utilize the mouse models to evaluate potential therapeutic interventions for abnormal behaviors associated with mental retardation.
Contact: Colleen Baker
Email: info@seasidetherapeutics.com
Seaside Therapeutics
CONTACT: Colleen Baker for Seaside Therapeutics, +1-617-680-1419,info@seasidetherapeutics.com
Web site: http://www.seasidetherapeutics.com/