Astrosalva Therapeutics, Inc. has launched to develop treatments for Alexander disease and the cerebral form of adrenoleukodystrophy (cALD).
Unravel Biosciences, Inc. is its founding development partner.
Alexander disease and cALD are rare genetic diseases that affect the brain’s white matter. The cerebral form affects both children and adults, and in children it can progress rapidly, often leading to total disability within a few years. MedlinePlus puts the prevalence of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, the genetic condition behind cALD, at 1 in 15,000 people worldwide, and Ionis Pharmaceuticals estimates Alexander disease affects about 1 in 1m to 3m people worldwide. As Astrosalva learned more about the shared challenges faced by families affected by rare neurodegenerative diseases, it expanded its focus to cALD, where the need for new treatment options remains urgent.
“My son Max was seven months old when he was diagnosed with Alexander disease and we were told there was nothing that could be done,” said Thomas Wagner, co-founder of Astrosalva.
“I read hundreds of research papers and wrote to the scientists who had written them, and many wrote back. Those conversations showed me how much promise there is in the research. Astrosalva exists to turn it into medicines, for Max and for every family facing these diseases.”
“Families living with Alexander disease and cALD now have approved treatments, and they still need more, including medicines that are easier to take,” said Paul Schmidt, co-founder and CEO of Astrosalva.
“After more than 10 years in rare disease, the pattern I keep seeing is promising research that never gets a company built around it. Thomas brought the science, and together we set up this company to turn it into a medicine, with the urgency these families deserve.”
“Astrosalva embodies patient-led drug development, which is critical to meeting pressing patient needs,” said Richard Novak, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Unravel, who has joined Astrosalva’s board of directors.
“We’re pleased to be Astrosalva’s founding development partner and bring our experience in rare and complex disease drug development to its programmes.”
Astrosalva’s programmes are preclinical.