ReS3-T Accepted Into Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program
ReS3-T, an investigational medicine developed by reMynd for therapy-resistant epilepsies such as Dravet syndrome, has been accepted into the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program (ETSP).
The ETSP identifies potential therapies for drug-resistant epilepsy and disease prevention and modification by allowing researchers from academic institutions and industry in the U.S. and abroad to submit compounds for testing in rodent epilepsy and seizure models. Based on test results, the ETSP then advises researchers on appropriate next steps for compounds with promise.
The ETSP has been instrumental in developing many U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies for epilepsy, including Topamax (topiramate) and Epidiolex.
“While a number of anti-seizure drugs exist in the market, there remains a high unmet need for treatments for pharmaco-resistant epilepsies,” Lode Debrabandere, chief business officer of reMynd, said in a press release.
“We are excited to collaborate with the National Institute of Health’s neurological division in developing effective and safe treatment options to potentially improve the quality of life of many patients living with epilepsy,” Debrabandere said.
Epilepsy is a common neurological condition that is characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. About 1% of the population live with epilepsy, and about a third of affected individuals have refractory epilepsy — seizures uncontrolled by at least two antiepileptic medications.
“Epilepsy continues to affect far too many people globally and, while thoroughly researched, treatments which address refractory epilepsies effectively are yet to be approved,” said Gerard Griffioen, chief scientific officer of reMynd.
Dravet syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy that usually begins in the first year of life as fever-related seizures, is usually caused by mutations in the SCN1A gene. These mutations impair the activity of inhibitory GABA neurons, leading to an overactive nervous system and ultimately recurrent seizures.
reMynd’s ReS3-T targets a protein called phosphodiesterase 6 delta subunit to reduce hyperactivity of neurons. Reduced neuronal hyperactivity improves neuronal function and survival, potentially decreasing seizure frequency. ReS3-T has shown evidence of efficacy in different preclinical models of epilepsy, including Dravet, the company says.
“At reMYND, we have been researching neuronal hyper-excitability for over a decade and our data have shown strong promise to tackle the disease in a fundamentally different and safe manner,” Griffioen said.
reMynd is researching and developing ReS3-T in collaboration with KU Leuven’s Centre for Drug Design and Discovery (CD3), an investment fund and drug-discovery center in Belgium.
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