Alterity Therapeutics announced it has commenced a new Phase 2 clinical trial of ATH434 in patients with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) and the first patient has been enrolled. This open label study, entitled "A Biomarker Study of ATH434 in Participants with MSA" (ATH434-202) is in addition to the ongoing, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial in early-stage MSA (ATH434-201). The Biomarker trial will enroll approximately 15 individuals with more advanced MSA than those participating in the randomized trial.

As an iron chaperone, it has excellent potential to treat Parkinson's disease as well as various Parkinsonian disorders such as Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). ATH434 successfully completed Phase 1 studies demonstrating the agent is well tolerated and achieved brain levels comparable to efficacious levels in animal models of MSA. ATH434 is currently being studied in two clinical trials: Study ATH434-201 is a randomized, double-blind, randomized-controlled Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with early-stage MSA and Study ATH434-202 is an open-label Phase 2 Biomarker trial in patients with MSA.

ATH434 has been granted Orphan drug designation for the treatment of MSA by the U.S. FDA and the European Commission. Multiple System Atrophy is a rare, neurodegenerative disease characterized by failure of the autonomic nervous system and impaired movement. The symptoms reflect the progressive loss of function and death of different types of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.