Emyria and UWA in Partnership to Commercialise Novel Serotonin-Releasing Agents for Mental Health and Neurology
Emyria Limited (ASX: EMD) (“Emyria”, or the “Company”) has signed an exclusive licence agreement with UWA, granting worldwide rights to a rapidly growing portfolio of selective serotonin-releasing agents. (See Appendix for Key Commercial Terms). These novel compounds, realised through a UWA–Emyria research partnership launched in 2021,2 include potential next-generation treatments for mental health and neurological conditions such as PTSD and Parkinson’s disease.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Emyria has finalised an important licence agreement with the University of Western Australia (UWA) securing exclusive global rightsto a library of patented, MDMA-inspired selective serotonin-releasing agents.
- Lead compounds MX-100 and MX-200 are being prepared for advanced screening, targetingmental health conditions like Post-Traumatic StressDisorder (PTSD) and Parkinson’s disease.
Supported by a $499,411 WA government grant,1 Emyria is accelerating its drug discovery pipeline with key results set for early2025.
As leaders in MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, Emyria’s pursuit of serotonin-selective compounds aligns with the Company’s commitment to improving treatment outcomes and safety for patients while building a valuable intellectual property portfolio to strengthen our therapeutic offerings.
Emyria and UWA’s drug discovery program has demonstrated significant technical breakthroughs in designing compounds with selective serotonin-releasing properties. Through advanced medicinal chemistry, the team has successfully created compounds that induce serotonin release without releasing dopamine or noradrenaline. This selectivity is critical for reducing side effects of MDMA such as euphoria and elevated blood pressure/heart rate, making the compounds better suited for clinical applications such as assisted psychotherapy and other neurological conditions.
Importantly, initial studies indicate that the half-life of these novel compounds can be reduced, allowing shorter therapeutic windows suited to psychotherapy. Long half-life requires extended MDMA-assisted therapy sessions, which increases the costs and complexity of delivery.
Dr Michael Winlo, CEO:
“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, while we simultaneously strengthen our clinical services to address serious mental health challenges.
Backed by a $499,411 WA government grant, Emyria will fast-track preclinical testing of both compounds with key results expected by early 2025.
Current Lead Compounds and Target Markets
The lead compounds, MX-100 and MX-200 are designed to harness the therapeutic potential of selective serotonin release while minimising the unwanted effects linked to dopamine and noradrenaline release.
The program that delivered MX-100, targets PTSD, and aims to deliver prosocial benefits with a shorter-acting profile ideal for assisted psychotherapy. MX-200 is a lead for a treatment to enhance L-dopa therapy for patients with Parkinson’s, a treatment which can cause debilitating side effects.
The development program has also shown an ability to design compounds with selective receptor activity. MX-100 and MX-200 do not directly stimulate the 5-HT2B receptor, currently a major limitation of existing selective serotonin releasing agents like fenfluramine, as this activity causes valvular heart disease. 5 A broader assessment of the activity of these lead compounds on a panel of important brain targets is underway as selective serotonin activity is attracting significant research and investment. 6
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