The Cambridge, Massachusetts–headquartered biotech QurAlis kicked the year off by launching a Phase 1 clinical study of QRL-101 (QRA-244), a potentially novel selective Kv7.2/7.3 ion channel opener to treat hyperexcitability-induced disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
QRL-101 targets Kv7.2/7.3 potassium channels. Kv7 modulation can potentially lower spinal and cortical motor neuron excitability, potentially improving ALS patient survival.
QurAlis company is building a pipeline of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small molecule programs for ALS subtypes that constitute the majority of ALS cases. In addition to QRL-101, its pipeline includes QRL-201, QRL-203, QRL-204 and QRL-202.
QRL-201 is also the focus of a Phase 1 trial.
The company’s QR43 Platform facilitates the discovery and development of novel therapies for TDP-43 pathologies, which are involved in some patients with ALS, frontotemporal degeneration and Alzheime…