WALTHAM, Mass., July 16, 2019 – Axial Biotherapeutics, a biotechnology company dedicated to building a unique class of gut-targeted programs for neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders, today announced the dosing of the first patient in its Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of AB-2004. In animal models, AB-2004 has demonstrated the ability to repair leaky gut and improve repetitive behavior, anxiety and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)-related sensorimotor gating deficits by removing key microbial metabolites.
“The dosing of the first patient in the Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of AB-2004 is an important milestone for Axial as we advance this program further into the clinic. ASD is an indication that currently has no approved therapies for the treatment of the core symptoms. We believe that AB-2004 has the potential to be a first-in-class drug targeting gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and core behavioral symptoms,” said David H. Donabedian, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of Axial Biotherapeutics. “The Axial hypothesis proposes that altered microbial metabolites may drive GI and behavioral symptoms in ASD subjects. We look forward to collecting Phase 1b/2a results to further study the potential of AB-2004 and its impact on improving GI and behavioral symptoms associated with ASD.”
The Phase 1b/2a clinical trial is designed to examine the safety and tolerability of AB-2004 in up to 25 male adolescent subjects with ASD. Exploratory endpoints include changes in bacterial metabolite levels, GI function, gut microbiome and behavior.
About Autism Spectrum Disorder
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), about 1 in 59 children has been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Core symptoms of ASD include impairments in social interaction, communication and the presence of stereotyped repetitive behaviors. Comorbidities are extensive and diverse, and include gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction, metabolic abnormalities, allergies, autoimmune disorders, neuroinflammation and epilepsy. GI dysfunction is estimated to occur in 40-70% of individuals with ASD. The medical severity of core and non-core ASD symptoms and the lack of safe and effective long-term treatments argue strongly for pursuing fundamentally new measures to address this significant unmet medical need.
About Axial Therapeutics
Axial Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of gut-restricted, small molecule therapeutics for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The company is leveraging its expertise in the gut-brain axis and its unique drug development platform to advance novel therapies that have the potential to transform the treatment paradigm in neurological diseases. Axial is advancing a pipeline of small molecule product candidates with lead clinical programs that address underlying pathology and resulting symptoms in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Parkinson’s Disease (PD), and additional preclinical initiatives in small molecules in other areas of autism and PD, as well as oncology and rare CNS diseases.
Contacts for Axial Therapeutics
Media:
Mike Beyer
Sam Brown, Inc.
312-961-2502
mikebeyer@sambrown.com
Investors:
Jeffrey Young, CFO
781-701-8467
jeffrey@axialtx.com