MT-act is working to develop novel small molecule drugs for neuroprotection. Despite enormous medical progress in diagnosing and slowing some neurodegenerative diseases, protecting neurons from further damage is still a large unmet need. MT-act targets a novel pathway for neuronal preservation, which has been reported to be dysregulated in several prominent neurodegenerative diseases, including glaucoma.
MT-act’s work is important for society as it is directly addresses the burden of glaucoma. Glaucoma is the world's leading cause of irreversible blindness, affecting 20 million people in Europe and the US. Known as the Alzheimer’s of the eye, glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes deterioration in peripheral vision. Affected patients report ‘seeing through a black tunnel’. Treatments to halt vision loss are available however, they are only applicable for the ‘high tension glaucoma’ subtype. For those diagnosed with ‘normal tension', which comprises over 30% of glaucoma patients, no treatments are available, and vision loss is imminent.
In this feasibility study, the overall objective was to perform competitor, market and preclinical/clinical development on MT-act’s lead candidate, and to update their business plan with results from the study.