Emyria (ASX:EMD) partners with UWA for groundbreaking serotonin agents in mental health

In a major move, Emyria (ASX:EMD) has secured an exclusive, worldwide licence agreement with the University of Western Australia (UWA), strengthening its position in the mental health and neurology market.

This partnership, which began in 2021, is a landmark step towards addressing critical gaps in treatments for conditions such as PTSD and Parkinson’s disease with innovative, MDMA-inspired serotonin-releasing agents.

Breaking New Ground in Serotonin Modulation

At the heart of this collaboration are two promising lead compounds, MX-100 and MX-200, designed to selectively release serotonin without triggering dopamine or noradrenaline—a breakthrough that could redefine the safety profile of treatments involving MDMA.

Current MDMA therapies face limitations due to unwanted side effects, including elevated blood pressure and heightened euphoria. In contrast, Emyria’s novel agents, developed alongside UWA’s expert team, promise a safer alternative by focusing on serotonin selectivity.

As Dr Michael Winlo, Emyria’s CEO, elaborated, “This licence agreement formalises an important research partnership with UWA, allowing Emyria to unlock the commercial value of a growing portfolio of potential new treatments to address significant unmet needs in psychiatry and neurology.”

Key Highlights

• Exclusive Licence: Emyria now holds worldwide rights to a portfolio of selective serotonin-releasing agents, representing a significant advancement in mental health and neurological therapeutics.
• Lead Compounds for PTSD and Parkinson’s: MX-100 is geared towards treating PTSD, while MX-200 aims to enhance Parkinson’s treatments, both targeting clinical efficacy and safety.
• Supportive Grant Funding: Backed by a $499,411 WA government grant, Emyria is accelerating preclinical testing, with pivotal results anticipated by early 2025.

Targeted Therapy Windows for Improved Clinical Applications

One of the distinct advantages of these new compounds is their shorter half-life, allowing for more manageable therapeutic windows.

Long-acting MDMA often requires extended, resource-intensive therapy sessions, complicating patient access and inflating costs.

Shorter-acting MX-100 could streamline PTSD treatments, while MX-200 promises to complement existing Parkinson’s therapies, potentially reducing debilitating side effects associated with traditional L-dopa treatments.

The compounds also bypass 5-HT2B receptor activation—a common drawback in existing agents, such as fenfluramine, linked to valvular heart disease.

This additional safety measure positions MX-100 and MX-200 favourably in the evolving market for selective serotonin therapies, where targeted receptor activity is increasingly valuable.

Outlook and Strategic Impact

For Emyria, the exclusive rights obtained through this partnership with UWA mark a pivotal progression in its drug pipeline and intellectual property portfolio.

The firm is actively developing a suite of psychedelic-assisted therapies, a focus that aligns with broader mental health initiatives worldwide.

With preclinical data expected in 2025, Emyria’s continued innovations may soon redefine standards of care in psychiatry and neurology, providing both targeted benefits and fewer side effects.

Dr Winlo further highlighted the partnership’s broader goals: “By aligning with UWA’s research excellence, we’re not only advancing novel treatments but also strengthening Emyria’s clinical services to tackle serious mental health challenges.”

With these advancements, Emyria stands poised to make a lasting impact on the treatment landscape for complex mental and neurological conditions, combining cutting-edge research with a commitment to addressing unmet therapeutic needs.

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