Seattle, WA and Oxford, England
The University of Oxford and Sound Pharmaceuticals (SPI), are pleased to announce the initiation of a Phase 2 clinical trial of SPI-1005 for the treatment of patients with bipolar disorder. SPI-1005 is an oral drug that contains ebselen, which mimics and induces the activity of Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) in the inner ear and brain. SPI-1005 is under clinical investigation in several neurotologic diseases where GPx activity is reduced including sensorineural hearing loss, ototoxicity/neurotoxicity, and Meniere’s disease. In addition to these neurotologic diseases, GPx activity is thought to be diminished in several neuropsychiatric disorders including bipolar, schizophrenia and autism. Bipolar disorder involves both mania and depression, and has been difficult to treat chronically. Lithium, a mainstay of bipolar treatment has significant dose-limiting side effects. Read More