Cambridge, Massachusetts-based QurAlis has dosed the first patient with the biotherapeutic QRL-201 in a Phase 1 clinical trial (ANQUR) in Canada. QRL-201 is a novel therapy targeting the restoration of STATHMIN-2 (STMN2) expression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. QurAlis believes ANQUR the first study to evaluate such a treatment.
Stathmin-2 (STMN2), also known as superior cervical ganglia neural specific 10 (SCG10), belongs to the stathmin protein family involved in the regulation and dynamics of microtubules. Predominantly expressed in neurons, STMN2 serves key functions in neuronal development, axonal growth and regeneration.
Recent research has revealed the significance of STMN2 in neurodegenerative diseases, especially ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Researchers have linked the pathogenesis of those conditions to the loss of STMN2 function.
“In mice, STMN2 deletion causes axonal degeneration and loss of muscle innervation, w…