PriceSensitive

Emyria (ASX:EMD) expands MDMA analogue program with UWA

ASX News, Health Care
ASX:EMD      MCAP $18.69M
31 May 2022 11:04 (AEST)
Emyria (ASX:EMD) - Managing Director, Dr Michael Winlo

Source: Emyria

Emyria (EMD) has substantially expanded its exclusive partnership with the University of Western Australia (UWA) to build and screen a proprietary MDMA analogue library.

The initial novel library of over 100 unique compounds was developed by a highly regarded research group, led by expert medicinal chemist Dr Matt Piggot who has been working with MDMA analogues and exploring their therapeutic potential for over 10 years.

Under the expanded agreement, the company will provide an additional $450,000 to UWA and Dr Piggot’s research group over the 12 months.

The funding follows on from the initial agreement entered into with UWA in August 2021.

Upon completion, Emyria will hold an exclusive option to licence and commercialise the most promising compounds and their associated patent families.

Positive initial results reveal 82 or the first 85 compounds screened by Eurofins show no signs of off-target effects which allows these compounds to advance toward preclinical models while additional compounds are being synthesised and prepared for screening.

Emyria Managing Director Dr Michael Winlo called the partnership “very productive” and reiterated that initial screening results have been positive.

“In a short timeframe, we have identified several promising lead drug candidates which we are now advancing to preclinical screening,” he said.

“This additional funding will help us further expand the library and build a strong patent
and translational strategy with our global team.

“This MDMA partnership is a core part of Emyria’s growing drug development pipeline
and complements our ultra-pure cannabinoid program led by EMD-RX5.”

Professor Matt Piggot said the research group had already identified hits for new disease indications as a result of the screening program this collaboration has enabled.

Dr Winlo will be presenting an update on the MDMA analogue program and its recently announced positive Phase 1 trial on June 1.

EMD shares held steady at 27 cents as of 9:49 am AEST.

Related News