Adelaide-based biopharmaceutical company Bionomics (ASX:BNO), which is focused on the discovery and development of therapies for the treatment of diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) and cancer, hosted a one-day symposium yesterday on 'Frontiers in Neuroscience Research: Memory, Movement and Mood'.
The company partnered with MSD to develop the event.
The companies have an ongoing collaboration for the discovery and development of drug candidates for the treatment of chronic and neuropathic pain. MSD acquired a shareholding in Bionomics last year.
Yesterday's event was the 4th Annual Bionomics - MSD symposium and the biggest to date with over 200 registrations.
Attendees included researchers, medical personnel and patient support groups as well as investors and life science analysts.
Bionomics CEO and managing director, Dr Deborah Rathjen, opened the symposium. It was closed by Mr Riad El-Dada, vice president and managing director, MSD Australia and New Zealand.
The keynote presentation, by Dr David Michelson, vice president neuroscience and ophthalmology, clinical research, MSD, was on 'Approaching an Answer to Alzheimer’s Disease? Antibodies, BACE, and Beyond'.
Bionomics’ chief scientific officer, Dr Jens Mikkelsen, presented an overview of Bionomics’ drug candidate for the treatment of anxiety disorders and the recent successful Phase 2 clinical trial results.
Another notable presenter was Professor Allan Young, chair of mood disorders, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. He spoke on 'Neurodegeneration: From Depression to Dementia'.
Professor Young was Principal Investigator of the recently reported and successful BNC210 Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with Generalised Anxiety Disorder.
The primary objective of the trial was to determine if BNC210 causes a decrease in symptoms of PTSD as measured by the globally-accepted Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5). Secondary objectives include the determination of the effects of BNC210 on anxiety, depression, quality of life, and safety.