Officials from M42 among others during the agreement signing ceremony. Credit: Department of Health Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi-based contract research organisation and a part of the M42 group, IROS has announced a collaboration with Prilenia Therapeutics and the International Huntington’s Disease Association (IHA) to conduct a clinical trial for Huntington’s disease (HD) in the UAE and MENA region.

The trial will investigate Prilenia’s investigational drug, pridopidine.

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The partnership aligns with Abu Dhabi’s healthcare goals, particularly in the area of genetic rare disease care.

M42 deputy group chief operating officer Dr Fahed Al Marzooqi said: “The planned trial would represent a significant step towards shedding light on the ‘hidden disease’ and raise awareness at the national and global level.”

Prilenia CEO Dr Michael Hayden said: “Pridopidine is a selective and potent sigma–1–receptor agonist with neuroprotective properties. In clinical studies, it demonstrated consistent treatment benefits across independent measures that are important to patients and families.

“These measures include day-to-day function, cognition and motor and clinical progression in people living with HD. Our hope is that this collaboration may help in the process of bringing this innovative new treatment to those people with HD in the UAE and MENA region who are in need of new options.”

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The clinical study aims to elevate awareness of Huntington’s disease and advance treatment options for patients and their families in the region.

This initiative is part of Project Needs Assessment and Therapeutics Development for Rare Diseases (NADER), an effort endorsed by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi to address the needs and develop therapies for rare diseases.

The agreement between the parties has been signed at the BIO International Convention in San Diego, US.

IHA president Svein Olaf Olsen said: “This is the first time a clinical trial in Huntington’s Disease is planned to take place in the region; this collaboration with IROS and Prilenia will aid our understanding of the disease.”