New research collaboration will help identify ALS drug candidates
A new research partnership between Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI) and Amylyx Pharmaceuticals is laying the groundwork for the development of new drug candidates with the potential to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases. ALS is a progressive and debilitating neuromuscular disorder caused by motor neuron death in the brain and spinal cord. Over time, people living with ALS eventually lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, move, and breathe.
The two-year sponsored research project will focus on the identification of novel drug candidates that inhibit Bax and Bak — two proteins which play a critical role in apoptosis, or programmed cell death. Apoptosis involving Bax and Bak is a key player in the pathophysiologic mechanisms which lead to motor neuron death in ALS.
“We’ve been successfully investigating the inhibition of Bax and Bak as a potential mechanism of action for neurodegenerative diseases for a number of years,” says Dr. David Andrews, director of Biological Sciences, senior scientist at SRI, Tier 1 Canada Research Chair and principal investigator. “We’re excited to partner with Amylyx now as this work moves closer to drug development. Academic and industry partnerships, like this one, are extremely valuable to advance life-changing treatments forward.”
At the end of the two-year agreement, Amylyx will have the right to license a drug candidate that can be taken in-house and developed internally. SRI will be responsible for identification of multiple rounds of new Bax and Bak inhibitor compounds.
