Syntaxin’s lead programme, AGN 214868, is progressing through a collaboration with Allergan, Inc. to treat pain. Allergan is currently conducting two Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia and idiopathic overactive bladder and urinary incontinence. Please refer to the following link for further information - Clinical Trials.
Syntaxin also has its own preclinical programme to treat acromegaly, an orphan indication caused by excess growth hormone secretion.
In October 2011, Syntaxin and Ipsen signed a global strategic collaboration to explore the discovery and development of new compounds in the field of botulinum toxins.
Syntaxin has a balanced portfolio with regard to achievability and risk. Products are chosen to ensure this balance, as well as strategic partnerships pursued to ensure future success, provide ongoing income and access to therapeutic expertise.
Syntaxin is a private company with a strong investor base including three corporate investors. Abingworth, SR One, J&J Development Corporation, LSP, Quest Management, Ipsen, Lundbeckfond Ventures and Seventure are current investors. The technology was spun out of the Health Protection Agency, who still owns a minority share of the company.
Syntaxin’s Science
Syntaxin’s TSI are biological molecules synthesized in microbial cell culture. Using a combination of inherent and engineered functional protein domains, Syntaxin’s TSI selectively bind to their chosen targeted cells and become internalised to deliver an endopeptidase into the cell cytoplasm. The endopeptidase cleaves proteins that are required for exocytosis and in doing so prevents further vesicular secretion. The duration of action of the TSI is determined by the endopeptidase half-life and the SNARE protein cleavage products in the cytoplasm.
TSI have been administered by both local injection (for the pain and idiopathic overactive bladder and urinary incontinence programmes) and systemically (for the acromegaly programme). In both settings the TSI was well tolerated and achieved efficacy equivalent to the gold standard. Uniquely, efficacy is maintained for weeks after just a single dose of TSI.