Clear Scientific: Combatting Drug Overdose from Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and Polydrug
05/21/24 • 26 min
Stimulant use in the United States has exploded into a nationwide crisis, as deaths and emergency room visits resulting from methamphetamine and cocaine use are rising at an alarming rate.
The overall substance abuse disorder crisis is further exacerbated by the high level of fentanyl use, which has long been referred to as an opioid epidemic, and the increasing use of more than substance at once. One fundamental limitation on the ability to respond to the crisis is that, to date, there is no FDA-approved therapeutic to treat overdose from stimulants like methamphetamine and cocaine, or polydrug. Users who want to get clean and rid themselves of methamphetamine, cocaine, and/or fentanyl often find it difficult, essentially “chaining” themselves into a cycle of use that’s mostly impossible to break.
First responders and emergency department physicians lack sufficient tools to treat overdose. But what if there was a treatment that could eliminate toxins and restore normal bodily function within minutes? That’s the aim of Clear Scientific, a small biotech in Cambridge, MA that’s currently testing a treatment (CS-1103) using small molecules to “eat” toxins and deactivate their harmful effects almost instantly. With Phase I of a first-in-human (FIH) clinical trial ongoing, this revolutionary therapeutic is offering hope to those suffering from drug misuse and addiction a “chance to get better.”
Join us as Mitch Zakin, Co-founder and Executive Vice President of Innovation, and Winston Henderson, Co-founder and General Counsel, discuss their therapeutic approach, offer an update on their progress with CS-1103, how collaboration has enhanced their development, and how they hope it will eventually impact this epidemic.
Show Notes
World Congress: Drug Modality Game Changers
Clear Scientific to Start Phase 1 Trial for Stimulant Antidote
Stimulant use in the United States has exploded into a nationwide crisis, as deaths and emergency room visits resulting from methamphetamine and cocaine use are rising at an alarming rate.
The overall substance abuse disorder crisis is further exacerbated by the high level of fentanyl use, which has long been referred to as an opioid epidemic, and the increasing use of more than substance at once. One fundamental limitation on the ability to respond to the crisis is that, to date, there is no FDA-approved therapeutic to treat overdose from stimulants like methamphetamine and cocaine, or polydrug. Users who want to get clean and rid themselves of methamphetamine, cocaine, and/or fentanyl often find it difficult, essentially “chaining” themselves into a cycle of use that’s mostly impossible to break.
First responders and emergency department physicians lack sufficient tools to treat overdose. But what if there was a treatment that could eliminate toxins and restore normal bodily function within minutes? That’s the aim of Clear Scientific, a small biotech in Cambridge, MA that’s currently testing a treatment (CS-1103) using small molecules to “eat” toxins and deactivate their harmful effects almost instantly. With Phase I of a first-in-human (FIH) clinical trial ongoing, this revolutionary therapeutic is offering hope to those suffering from drug misuse and addiction a “chance to get better.”
Join us as Mitch Zakin, Co-founder and Executive Vice President of Innovation, and Winston Henderson, Co-founder and General Counsel, discuss their therapeutic approach, offer an update on their progress with CS-1103, how collaboration has enhanced their development, and how they hope it will eventually impact this epidemic.
Show Notes
World Congress: Drug Modality Game Changers
Clear Scientific to Start Phase 1 Trial for Stimulant Antidote
Previous Episode
Mission Therapeutics: Inhibiting DUBs to Halt Diseases
At Mission Therapeutics, Sarah Almond serves as their Head of Pharmacology, but she wears many hats to help develop potential treatments for neurodegenerative conditions.
Their main area of focus centers around research into deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), which may impact neurodegeneration. By studying DUBs, Sarah and her team have been able to generate highly targeted and potent molecules that contribute to developing safe and effective therapeutics. In fact, one of these compounds (MTX325) is currently enrolled in a clinical trial to test its safety and pharmacokinetics ahead of effectiveness in treating Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative condition impacting the central nervous system. With the first patient dosing scheduled for later this year, they are hopeful it could be a gamechanger for treating these debilitating conditions.
Join Sarah as we discuss Mission Therapeutics, the science behind DUBs, how collaboration with a CRO advanced their research, and what her thoughts are on the future of drug discovery and development for neurodegenerative conditions, among others.
Show Notes
- Mission Therapeutics
- Poster: Development and validation of a high content-based assay to measure Tom20 loss in dopaminergic human neurons differentiated in vitro
- Parkinson's Disease Studies | Charles River
- Neuroscience | Charles River
- Knockout or Inhibition of USP30 protects Dopaminergic Neurons in a Parkinson's Disease Mouse Model
- Mission Therapeutics granted MHRA Clinical Trial Authorisation (CTA) for MTX325 for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease
- Mission Therapeutics announces US FDA approval to initiate Phase II clinical trial of its lead asset MTX652 in Acute Kidney Injury
Next Episode
Cure EB: Healing the Wounds
Imagine giving birth to a baby girl and noticing pieces of skin missing from her body almost immediately.
For Sharmila Nikapota, this was the case with her firstborn, Sohana. Genetic testing revealed that she was one of the over 500,000 people globally suffering from Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a “constantly painful and debilitating” skin condition where minimal contact can lead to blisters, wounds, tissue damage, eating difficulties, and eye injuries, among other symptoms. After seeking answers for her daughter’s prognosis and not getting any, Sharmila started Cure EB to educate people and eventually discover ways to manage this painful condition. With the UK approving a first-of-its-kind topical treatment for EB, she hopes it’s the first of many that can give patients like her daughter a better quality of life.
Join Sharmila as she discusses how Sohana’s experience with EB has shaped her personality, the origin and mission of Cure EB, the challenges of managing Sohana’s condition, and what you can do to further Cure EB’s ultimate goals.
Show Notes
Cure EB - Accelerating Research to End Painful Skin
Birch Bark Extract: A Review in Epidermis Bullosa
Charles River | Cell and Gene Therapy
Charles River | Rare Disease
Eureka Blog | Living Rare
Krystal Biotech Touts Topical Gene Therapy Uptake
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