Asset Could be Key Developer for Neuroinflammation Medicines

Corbyn Therapeutics has been granted a licence for assets held by the University of Dundee’s Drug discovery Unit to develop possible new treatments for neuroinflammation-based disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease of the central nervous system in which inflammation causes damage to nerve cells and the myelin sheath which surrounds them. MS is estimated to affect about 2.2 million people globally, including more than 100,000 people in the UK.

A ubiquitin-specific protease, USP15, has been shown to be key in the neuroinflammation pathogenesis. Montreal-based biotech company Corbyn Therapeutics was established to exploit this finding and uses a proprietary drug discovery platform to identify and validate novel small molecule inhibitors of USP15.

This License Agreement builds upon an existing partnership which, support from the Medical Research Council, has delivered multiple series of drug-like compounds suitable for further development by Corbin.

Dr Julie Brady, Business Development Manager for the Drug Discovery Unit stated, “We are committed to the translation of world-class biology into novel drug targets and candidate drugs and we work with partners globally to achieve this. The relationship with Corbin has created a transatlantic, multidisciplinary team working towards the discovery of new medicines for diseases associated with neuroinflammation.”

Sean MacDonald, CEO Corbin Therapeutics said, “The team in Dundee have helped us move forward with a very promising discovery program targeting USP15. Corbin is now focused on developing novel drugs that have the potential to treat a number of diseases of unmet medical need and to deliver value for our shareholders.”