Saniona AB (STO:SANION), a biotechnology company in the field of ion channels, announced on Monday that its collaboration partner, Cadent Therapeutics, a precision neuroscience company, has initiated phase 1 trial for CAD-1883 for the treatment of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) and essential tremor.

According to the company, sourced from its ion channel research platform, CAD-1883 is the first programme from its research portfolio to enter clinical development.

Saniona believes that this research platform provides potential long-term value creation in the company as these programmes enter clinical development.

CAD-1883 was discovered in a joint research programme between Saniona and Cadent Therapeutics. For patients with spinocerebellar ataxia and essential tremor, the firing pattern of neurons in the cerebellum have become dysregulated, resulting in the loss of motor control that impacts mobility and fine motor function. By changing the calcium sensitivity of small conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (SK), CAD-1883 causes potassium current to flow at lower calcium concentrations, potentially restoring neuronal firing regularity and improving motor function. Saniona is a shareholder of Cadent Therapeutics and holds the right to royalties on CAD-1883.

Saniona is a research and development company focused on drugs for diseases of the central nervous system, autoimmune diseases, metabolic diseases and treatment of pain.