CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--QurAlis Corporation, a biotech company focused on developing precision medicines for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurologic diseases, today announced that the company will present two posters featuring data from two of the company’s preclinical precision medicine ALS programs at the Motor Neuron Disease Association (MNDA) 31st International Symposium on ALS/MND, being held virtually on December 9-11, 2020.
QurAlis co-founders and Harvard professors Kevin Eggan, Ph.D. and Clifford Woolf, M.D., Ph.D., members of the QurAlis Scientific and Clinical Advisory Boards, Brian Wainger, M.D., Ph.D. (Massachusetts General Hospital) and Merit Cudkowicz, M.D., M.Sc. (Massachusetts General Hospital), and other authors recently published in JAMA Neurology the results of a clinical study investigating the therapeutic potential of Kv7 agonism in ALS. The clinical data support QurAlis’ belief that a safe Kv7 opener could be an effective disease-modifying therapy for ALS patients with motor system hyperexcitability, an approach that QurAlis is pursing with its preclinical program investigating the regulation of the Kv7.2/7.3 ion channel.
The poster presentations will share, for the first time publicly, results from preclinical studies of QurAlis’ program investigating a novel Kv7.2/7.3 ion channel agonist as a potential treatment for motor neuron hyperexcitability and excitotoxicity, as well as its program targeting the TBK1 autophagy pathway.
“While KV7 agonists have shown great potential as a treatment for the 20-50% of ALS patients who present with hyperexcitability in their motor system, they can often cause undesired side effects such as dizziness and fatigue,” said Daniel Elbaum, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of QurAlis. “The preclinical data we will be presenting show that the improved channel specificity of our novel Kv7.2/7.3 agonist could translate into an improved clinical safety profile with significant reduction in off-target adverse events. We look forward to sharing the full results of this preclinical study as well as discussing our autophagy program at the MNDA 31st International Symposium on ALS/MND.”
Details of the presentations are as follows:
Title: TBK1 Autophagy Pathway Disease Mechanisms in ALS
Authors: Erika Norabuena; Clinton Bourbonais; Kasper Roet, Ph.D.; Kevin Eggan, Ph.D.; Daniel Elbaum, Ph.D.; Sandy Hinckley, Ph.D.
Presenting Author: Erika Norabuena
Date/Time: December 9, 2020, 12:10pm-12:50pm ET
Poster/Abstract Number: TST-07
Title: QRA-244 a Potent, Selective KCNQ2/3 Opener and a Potential Therapy for Motor System Hyperexcitability induced Disease Progression in ALS patients
Authors: Daniel Elbaum, Ph.D.; Sandy Hinckley, Ph.D.; Kasper Roet, Ph.D.
Presenting Author: Daniel Elbaum, Ph.D.
Date/Time: December 11, 2020, 7:05am-7:50am ET
Poster/Abstract Number: TST-20
About ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease impacting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ALS breaks down nerve cells, reducing muscle function and causing loss of muscle control. ALS can be traced to mutations in over 25 different genes and is often caused by a combination of multiple sub-forms of the condition. Its average life expectancy is three years, and there is currently no cure for the disease.
About QurAlis Corporation
QurAlis is bringing hope to the ALS community by developing breakthrough precision medicines for this devastating disease. Our stem cell technologies generate proprietary human neuronal models that enable us to more effectively discover and develop innovative therapies for genetically validated targets. We are advancing three antisense and small molecule programs addressing sub-forms of the disease that account for the majority of patients. Together with a world-class network of thought leaders, drug developers and patient advocates, our team is rising to the challenge of conquering ALS. www.quralis.com
