US biopharmaceutical company Sterotherapeutics announced on Monday that it has launched a Phase 2 clinical trial of ST-002, a novel drug candidate for patients with Cushing's Syndrome, a rare endocrine disorder with very limited available therapeutic options.

An Investigators Meeting to start the study has taken place in Athens, Greece, when clinical investigators, research coordinators and stakeholders discussed trial objectives, protocol details and best practices.

The Phase 2 trial is intended to assess the safety, efficacy and tolerability of ST-002 in patients with Cushing's syndrome.

Caused by prolonged exposure to excessive cortisol levels, Cushing's syndrome can lead to severe complications such as diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis and increased mortality if left untreated.

Sterotherapeutics has received orphan drug designation for ST-002 from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).