Olesoxime (TRO19622) is an experimental drug formerly under development by the now-defunct French company Trophos as a treatment for a range of neuromuscular disorders. It has a cholesterol-like structure and belongs to the cholesterol-oxime family of mitochondrial pore modulators.

Research

In preclinical studies, the compound displayed neuroprotective properties by promoting the function and survival of neurons and other cell types under disease-relevant stress conditions. It did so through interactions with two components of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), VDAC and TSPO. In preclinical studies on Huntington's disease, the disease-attenuating effects of olesoxime were attributed to modulating the activity of calcium-dependent proteases called calpains.

A 2009–2011 phase 3 clinical trial in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis did not demonstrate an increase in survival. A 2011–2013 trial in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) indicated that the compound may prevent deterioration of muscle function. In 2015, the entire olesoxime programme was purchased by Hoffmann-La Roche for €120 million with a view to developing a treatment for SMA. However, in June 2018, faced with technical and regulatory challenges and competition from a potentially more effective drug nusinersen, Roche halted further development of olesoxime.

Further reading

  • Rovini A, Carré M, Bordet T, Pruss RM, Braguer D (September 2010). "Olesoxime prevents microtubule-targeting drug neurotoxicity: selective preservation of EB comets in differentiated neuronal cells". Biochemical Pharmacology. 80 (6): 884–894. doi:. PMID .
  • Xiao WH, Zheng FY, Bennett GJ, Bordet T, Pruss RM (December 2009). . Pain. 147 (1–3): 202–209. doi:. PMC . PMID .
  • Bordet T, Buisson B, Michaud M, Abitbol JL, Marchand F, Grist J, et al. (August 2008). "Specific antinociceptive activity of cholest-4-en-3-one, oxime (TRO19622) in experimental models of painful diabetic and chemotherapy-induced neuropathy". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 326 (2): 623–632. doi:. PMID . S2CID .

External links