Troriluzole, formerly known as trigriluzole, is a new chemical entity that modulates glutamate, the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the human body. Biohaven Pharmaceuticals has announced its second trial investigating the effects of the drug troriluzole in a number of the spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and 10). Since dysfunction of the glutamate system is indicated in spinocerebellar ataxia, it follows that this could work as a potential therapy. Biohaven have planned a phase III, long-term, randomized, double-blind placebo controlled trial of troriluzole in adult subjects with these SCAs, which is estimated to begin at the end of January.
Dr Rob Berman, Chief Medical Officer of Biohaven told us ‘Biohaven is excited to gear up for a second potentially registrational trial of troriluzole in patients with SCA. Study subjects will be randomized to receive either troriluzole (200 mg daily) or placebo for 48 weeks. We are incorporating lessons learned from our first trial to improve the study design and optimize the ability of the study to detect an efficacy signal’.
More information about the trial can be found on clinicaltrials.gov or on the Biohaven website. We previously reported on the first Biohaven trial here.Â
