Q BioMed partners with SRI International for autism drug QBM-001

Q BioMed Inc (OTCQB:QBIO) has forged a new partnership with SRI International for the pre-clinical development and early manufacturing of its drug candidate QBM-001, which treats nonverbal disorders in autistic children.

SRI, a research center based in Menlo Park, California, is currently developing a formulation for QBM-001 and the pre-clinical studies for the drug candidate will be led by Dr Stephen Morairty and his team at SRI’s Center for Neuroscience.

QBM-001 targets toddlers with pediatric developmental non-verbal disorders who report elevated blood markers that lead to developmental delay, an autism diagnosis and the eventual diminishment of their verbal capabilities.

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SRI boasts expertise in working on the drug delivery challenges presented by small molecule drugs and biologics. And Dr Morairty has worked with several pre-clinical autism models before.

In a statement, QBioMed CEO Denis Corin said the new tie-up would boost the New York-based company’s preparation for clinical trials for QBM-001, which are set to start next year.

“We are pleased to have found both experience with autism models and expertise in formulation of products like QBM-001 in SRI International,” said Corin. “This important step will be the catalyst for several milestones for QBM-001 over the next few months as we prepare clinical products for the trials we anticipate starting in 2019.”

Not all toddlers who become nonverbal will benefit from QBM-001. But with validated biomarkers as well as testing from trained specialists and genetic testing, children who fall into this population can be identified and will have a better likelihood of responding to treatment.

There are roughly 18,000 new cases of the disability in the US each year and a similar number in Europe.

QBioMed’s other drug candidates include Uttroside-B, a treatment for liver cancer, Strontium Chloride Sr89, a non-narcotic injectable designed to relieve bone pain in cancer patients, as well as MAN-01, which treats glaucoma.

Its shares slipped 4% to $1.74 Tuesday.

Story by ProactiveInvestors