KCC2 activation nears inflection point

Evidence has been mounting for decades that activating KCC2 may help treat a host of neurological disorders, but discovering selective activators has always been the challenge. With advances in drug screening technologies, several companies are converging on the target. The most advanced are gearing up for first-in-human studies.

Ovid Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:OVID) plans to bring a direct activator of KCC2 to the clinic next quarter. Founded 10 years ago with a focus on epileptic disorders, it was evidence of the target’s role in epilepsy that drew the company to KCC2, via a deal with AstraZeneca plc (LSE:AZN: NYSE:AZN) less than three years ago. ...