PriceSensitive

PharmaDrug (CSE:PHRX) advances psychedelics program to treat eye diseases

Psychedelics
CSE:PHRX
05 November 2021 13:30 (EDT)

PharmaDrug Inc. (PHRX) announced Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI) will begin in vitro studies on a short-list of DMT analogue molecules.

The short-list studies will support IND-enabling research for FDA review.

PharmaDrug has commissioned TIBI to develop a novel ocular drug delivery platform that aims to deliver psychedelic and tryptamine-based pharmaceuticals for eye diseases.

Based on considerations related to the resistance of metabolic breakdown and anticipated downstream formulation requirements, the company will focus on comparing the potency of two candidate tryptamines.

The candidates were narrowed from an initial list of six.

Studies underway at TIBI will take place in three phases:

 1) In vitro, head-to-head evaluation of potency in cell-based models of glaucoma

 2) Evaluation of efficacy (the ability to lower intraocular pressure “IOP”) when applied as a topical eye drop in animal models of glaucoma

 3) Development and testing of a medical device capable of delivering sustained, local, sub-psychotropic levels of the development candidate to patients afflicted with glaucoma.

Glaucoma impacts more than 2.7 million people aged 40 or older in the United States.

Current treatments are known to have poor rates of compliance of up to 80 per cent of patients.

The global market for glaucoma was estimated by Market Scope at $4.8 billion in 2019 with the U.S. market representing $1.9 billion.

It is generally accepted that the observed increase in IOP correlates with progressive vision loss.

Current treatments for POAG primarily consist of eye drops.

These approaches often result in side effects such as redness and stinging and require multiple daily applications all of which diminish patient compliance.

Tryptamines are thought to work in a completely distinct way to lower IOP and as such potentially embody a new class of glaucoma medications that may be used alone, or in combination with already approved medications.

The company’ is focusing on two highly promising, undisclosed tryptamines as a potential therapeutic solution in treating glaucoma represents a potential paradigm shift.

Topical application of several tryptamines has shown early promise in preclinical models of elevated IOP.

However, formulation, delivery, and the potential for undesirable hallucinogenic side effects have all contributed to a lack of development of tryptamines.

PharmaDrug Inc. (PHRX) is unchanged trading at $0.045 per share at 12:32 p.m. ET.

Related News