Autifony Therapeutics and Boehringer Ingelheim

https://autifony.com/

Boehringer Ingelheim and Autifony Therapeutics Limited (“Autifony”) today announced that they have signed an agreement about certain aspects of Autifony’s voltage gated potassium channel modulator platform. Boehringer Ingelheim now has an exclusive option to purchase Autifony’s Kv3.1/3.2 positive modulator platform.

Both Autifony and Boehringer Ingelheim have a strong interest to explore the Kv3.1/3.2 mechanism for other indications, including hearing disorders

 

I thought they failed in their tinnitus programme so why would they buy this

 

It's for schizophrenia and other CNS disorders.

 

Well... a recent (december 2017) researchpaper still reported positive effects of kv3.1 modulation with aut63 (failed in trails) on fast spiking neurons in the auditory pathway (read: tinnitus). The abstract of the paper is accessible on pubmed:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29235497/

The difference between the failed trail on humans and this research was the focus on direct cellular interaction (lab trail) and direct injection of the compound (aut63) in mice brains.

Probably the scientist behind this compound still believe in success via another route for administration (injection instead of pills). The partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim could be related with this new insight.

 

I am aware of the paper: https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/aut00063-auditory-nerve-damage.25541/

 

Hm, so maybe a combination of KV3.1 and 3.2 could be the answer. Also, I still believe the medication has the potential to treat tinnitus, even through injections. I believe Autifony used a KV3.1 potassium channel and from my reading, both KV3.1 and 3.2 have importance in hyperexcitability in neurons. I'm more excited for KCNQ (KV7) modulators though.