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Pharma Tech Outlook | Monday, March 02, 2020
Healx explores gaboxadol in combination therapies for fragile x syndrome and other indications
FREMONT, CA: Gaboxadol shows encouraging activity and a good safety profile in a range of conditions. We are keen to see its clinical value unlocked," states Jeremy Levin, D.Phil, MB BChir, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ovid Therapeutics. Ovid Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing medicines that improve the lives of people living with neurological diseases, and Healx, the AI-powered, patient-inspired technology company pioneering the next generation of drug discovery, confirm that Healx has purchased an exclusive option to license rights to develop and commercialize gaboxadol from Ovid. Healx intends to research the molecule as part of potential combination therapy for Fragile X syndrome and treatment for other purposes under the terms of the agreement.
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“We’re impressed by the capabilities that Healx has developed and are optimistic that they can unlock effective drug combinations that will take advantage of the unique mechanism that underlies the effects we see when patients take gaboxadol,” adds Levin.
Ovid previously evaluated gaboxadol in Phase 2a clinical research as monotherapy for Fragile X syndrome. Healx will now strive to optimize treatment for the illness by mixing gaboxadol with additional drugs, such as HLX-0201, found through the company's proprietary artificial intelligence platform, Healnet. Along with the initial focus on Fragile X syndrome, Healx intends to employ cutting-edge indication expansion technology to uncover more disorders for which gaboxadol may be effective.
"This agreement represents an exciting opportunity for Healx to advance more potential treatments for rare conditions towards the clinic, and, hopefully, deliver them to patients in need," comments Dr. Tim Guilliams, co-founder and CEO at Healx. "We are excited to be deploying our innovative combination and indication expansion methods to identify new therapeutic opportunities for compounds like gaboxadol."
If Healx exercises its option, Ovid will be compensated for specified clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestones linked with gaboxadol development. Additionally, Healx will pay Ovid tier-based royalties on net sales of marketed gaboxadol-containing treatments. Ovid will retain the option to co-develop and co-commercialize Healx products and share net earnings and losses in place of milestone and royalty payments. Ovid has no plans to perform additional gaboxadol trials.
This agreement with Ovid follows Healx's announcement last year of a partnership with Japan's Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. to expand its indications. Collaborations with Ono Pharmaceutical and Ovid Therapeutics are critical to Healx's aim of providing unique, effective therapies to patients with rare diseases in need. The Healx team is open to exploring additional collaborations with industry, patient groups, and academic institutions.
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