Embera advances drug abuse candidate with Series A
This article was originally published in Scrip
Small Boston biotech Embera Therapeutics has raised $2m in the second part of its Series A financing through a host of investors, including French biotech HRA Pharma, angel groups and private investors. The company is using the money to complete a Phase I, dose-ranging study of its lead compound, EMB-001. The trial is meant to test the safety and pharmacokinetics of the drug and is being conducted in people who smoke cigarettes but are otherwise healthy. EMB-001 is a combination product of the cortisol synthesis inhibitor metyrapone and the benzodiazepine oxazepam, both FDA approved, and meant for the treatment of substance abuse. "Data from preclinical and pilot studies suggest potential for EMB-001 as a new treatment for addictions affecting underserved and significant patient populations; for example, the nearly one million U.S. citizens suffering from cocaine use disorder have no approved treatment option," said Bob Linke, CEO of Embera, in a statement. "We anticipate initiation of dosing in the next 30 days in order to produce top-line data by the end of 2015."