Overview
- Researchers at the University of Sheffield’s SITraN, working with Aclipse Therapeutics, developed M102 and reported results in Molecular Neurodegeneration.
- In mouse models of motor neurone disease, M102 slowed disease progression and preserved muscle function with improvements in movement, gait and nerve function.
- The compound protected lab-grown motor neurons from damage caused by patient-derived astrocytes, indicating neuroprotective effects in cell models.
- M102 acts by activating two cellular defense pathways, NRF2 and HSF1, which are linked to stress responses, inflammation control, energy support and protein clearance.
- Investigators say they are trial-ready and intend to move to human testing once funding and regulatory steps are in place, with no human safety or efficacy data yet.