The McQuade Center for Strategic Research and Development, LLC (MSRD), a member of the global Otsuka family of pharmaceutical companies, announces it has entered a collaboration agreement with Eikonizo Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company committed to creating life-changing therapies, to develop inhibitors of histone deacetylase-6 (HDAC6) focused on treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and other diseases.

Under the terms of the agreement, MSRD and Eikonizo will collaborate to advance Eikonizo’s HDAC6 inhibitors through preclinical and Phase 1b clinical studies respectively, with the opportunity to expand the collaboration after those studies.

“We are dedicated to seeking out and supporting novel treatments for complex and rare diseases,” said Robert McQuade, Ph.D., president, McQuade Center for Strategic Research and Development, LLC, and chief strategic officer, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. “Based on our pre-clinical evaluation, we are hopeful that Eikonizo’s compounds can open up new treatment options for patients living with ALS and other rare diseases of high unmet need.”

“Eikonizo is discovering and developing novel small molecule therapeutics and leveraging companion target engagement technology to de-risk and accelerate development. We believe our approach and our brain-penetrant HDAC6 inhibitors could provide a transformative therapy for ALS,” said Janice Kranz, PhD., co-founder, CEO and president of Eikonizo. “We are delighted to collaborate with MSRD, honored that they recognize the potential of Eikonizo’s strategy and HDAC6-targeting platform, and excited to leverage MSRD’s experience and support to markedly accelerate development of our first therapeutic candidate into the clinic. Eikonizo and MSRD share values of innovation, scientific rigor and urgency to address unmet medical needs and thus make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives.”