PharmAust Limited announced Trial Safety Committee approval to progress with an escalation of the MPL tablet dosing for MND patients. The trial patients living with MND/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (MND/ALS) were evaluated for adverse events and pharmacokinetic information of MPL absorption. The Trial Safety Committee confirmed there were no reported safety issues or SAEs.

The PK data also confirmed drug absorption. PharmAust will continue to supply MPL tablets to all six patients in Cohort 1 that elected to remain on the treatment. The trial is open label and comprises a four-week escalating dose of MPL.

Patient recruitment at the next MPL dosing level has commenced with four new patients currently undergoing screening. PharmAust demonstrated in its preclinical programs that MPL has the potential to activate molecular pathways relevant to the treatment of MND. MPL could potentially reduce the rate of degeneration and loss of motor neurons in the anterior horns and motor nuclei of the brainstem.

There are also a number of surrogate clinical endpoints to be determined during the trial. PharmAust has developed and manufactured a bespoke MPL tablet for the trial.