Sydney, Australia-based Mentara Therapeutics launched with backing from SPRIM Global Investments and the acquisition of MTA-304 (formerly EM-221), an investigational PDE10A inhibitor, from San Diego-based EuMentis Therapeutics. The company plans to initiate a Phase II trial in H1 2027 for levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID), a common complication of Parkinson's disease treatment. Financial terms were not disclosed.
MTA-304 is a selective, second-generation PDE10A inhibitor originally discovered by Japan's Mochida Pharmaceutical. The compound is designed to modulate signaling in the striatum, a brain region involved in involuntary movements, potentially reducing dyskinesia without compromising levodopa's therapeutic effects. Three Phase I studies involving 86 participants demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile, while preclinical studies showed reductions in dyskinesia. Human efficacy has yet to be established.
Levodopa-induced dyskinesia affects a substantial proportion of patients receiving long-term treatment for Parkinson's disease. Extended-release amantadine is currently the only US FDA-approved treatment specifically for LID, but adverse effects, including hallucinations and dizziness, can limit its use. MTA-304 is being developed as a potential alternative targeting a different signaling pathway.