Researchers from the University of Birmingham and the University of Sheffield have joined forces with NLC Health Ventures to co-found a company that will focus on the clinical development of a new therapeutic for spinal cord injury and cerebrovascular disease, including stroke.
Announced today by NLC Health Ventures, the launch of Midland Pharmaceuticals Ltd will see Professors Zubair Ahmed, from Birmingham’s Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, and Arshad Majid, Deputy Dean of the Division of Neurosciences at Sheffield, join veteran CEO Dr Peter D. Suzdak, who has an established track record in leading companies to clinical stage and bringing novel therapeutics to market.
The loss of sensory and motor function that occurs following spinal cord injury and stroke represents a major unmet medical need. Current therapies offer only modest symptomatic benefits to these patients but do not treat the underlying neuronal damage that occurs.
Dr Peter D Suzdak, PhD, CEO of Midland Pharmaceuticals
Midland Pharmaceuticals will focus on the clinical development of MLP-1236, a first in class dual inhibitor of MMP-9 and MMP-12, two enzymes that are implicated in the inflammatory process following injury to the central nervous system.
MLP-1236 has already completed Phase 1 and Phase 2a clinical studies and was shown to be safe and well tolerated. In preclinical models, MLP-1236 was effective in reversing the major pathologies associated with spinal cord injury (oedema, blood spinal cord barrier breakdown, scar tissue formation, proinflammatory cytokine release, neuropathic pain and sensory function deficits). In multiple preclinical stroke models, MLP-1236 reduced brain tissue death and injury and resulted in improved functional outcomes.
Following the completion of an ongoing financing, Midland Pharmaceuticals will initiate a Phase 2b clinical proof-of-principle trial of MLP-1236 in patients with spinal cord injury. An additional Phase 2b trial in stroke is also being planned.
The co-founding researchers are both highly experienced in drug discovery and clinical development. Professor Ahmed’s research on molecular mechanisms underpinning repair and regeneration in the central nervous system has received wide acclaim, and Professor Majid is a leading translational neuroscientist and phase 3a neurology lead for Sheffield Medical School.
Spinal cord injury and stroke are devastating medical conditions resulting in permanent disability and death. Annually, there are more than 1.2 million new cases of spinal cord injury and approximately 12 million people who suffer a stroke each year worldwide. Current treatments offer modest benefit or only symptomatic relief, underlining the need for new, more effective therapeutic interventions.
Dr Peter D Suzdak, PhD, CEO of Midland Pharmaceuticals said: “The loss of sensory and motor function that occurs following spinal cord injury and stroke represents a major unmet medical need. Current therapies offer only modest symptomatic benefits to these patients but do not treat the underlying neuronal damage that occurs. Inhibition of MMP-9 and -12 with MLP-1236 has the possibility of transforming the way these patients are treated.”
