Mission Therapeutics Shifts Focus to Clinical Assets, Closes Preclinical Lab

AbbVie Partner Streamlines Operations to Advance Parkinson's and Kidney Injury Candidates

Mission Therapeutics, a biotech company known for its work on deubiquitylating enzymes, is refocusing its efforts on clinical-stage assets. The company has announced the closure of its preclinical laboratory in Cambridge, UK, to concentrate resources on its two lead candidates: MTX325 for Parkinson's disease and MTX652 for acute kidney injury.

Parkinson's Disease Program Advances with Charitable Support

Mission's lead candidate, MTX325, has shown promising results in early-stage clinical trials. The company completed the single ascending dose stage of a phase 1 trial in 2024, demonstrating a favorable safety profile and the ability to penetrate the central nervous system. With a $5.2 million commitment from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research and Parkinson's UK, Mission is poised to begin a phase 1b trial in patients with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease in early 2025.

The ongoing phase 1 study, which includes both healthy volunteers and Parkinson's patients, is scheduled to conclude in May 2026. This timeline aligns with Mission's current financial runway, which extends "well into 2026," according to a company spokesperson.

Kidney Injury Program Moves to Phase 2

Mission's second clinical candidate, MTX652, targets acute kidney injury in adults at high risk following cardiac surgery. The company received FDA clearance for a phase 2 trial in late 2023, following the successful completion of a phase 1 study in healthy volunteers earlier that year.

Financial Stability Amidst Strategic Shift

To support its clinical programs, Mission raised £25.2 million ($31.7 million) in March 2024. This funding round was aimed at advancing both MTX325 and MTX652 through their respective clinical trials. The company's decision to close its preclinical operations is expected to further streamline resources towards these key assets.

Mission Therapeutics, founded on the work of University of Cambridge professor Steve Jackson, has historically focused on mitochondrial dysfunction and has attracted partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies, including AbbVie. The company's strategic pivot reflects a growing trend in the biotech industry to concentrate on later-stage assets with nearer-term potential for clinical impact and return on investment.