Quantum BioPharma Ltd. (QNTM) said Tuesday it is teaming up with the clinical research arm of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO) to get its multiple sclerosis treatment, Lucid-MS, into a Phase 2 clinical trial.
The two companies signed a Study Start-Up Agreement, which Quantum BioPharma framed as a significant developmental milestone coming on the heels of the therapy's recent FDA clearance.
Thermo Fisher's PPD clinical research business will manage the formal study initiation and provide the related research services.
What the Trial Will Look Like
Under the contract, Thermo Fisher will support Quantum BioPharma in implementing the Phase 2 trial, covering study start-up activities and related clinical research services.
The upcoming randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will assess how well patients with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis tolerate Lucid-MS.
Researchers will evaluate both the safety and effectiveness of the drug using clinical and radiological markers tied directly to disease biology and progression.
How Lucid-MS Is Supposed to Work
Lucid-MS is a novel, first-in-class chemical entity designed to protect the nervous system by stopping myelin breakdown.
By targeting the PAD2 enzyme, which drives myelin damage, the investigational therapy aims to halt neurodegenerative processes.
Earlier preclinical studies showed the drug could successfully prevent and reverse measures of myelin degradation.
In May, Quantum BioPharma announced that patient enrollment in the collaborative study had reached roughly 50%, alongside preliminary results from its novel PET imaging approach designed to measure demyelination in the brain directly.
Researchers using the [¹⁸F]3F4AP PET tracer reported strong imaging results in active MS lesions, suggesting potential for improved tracking of disease progression.
QNTM Price Action: Quantum BioPharma shares were up 1.15% at $3.30 during premarket trading on Tuesday, according to market data.
