Singapore-based biopharmaceutical company Specialised Therapeutics Asia (ST) will partner with Netherlands-based biotechnology company Treeway BV to commercialise a new therapy to treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) – the most common form of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) - in Australia and New Zealand (NZ).

The therapy is known as TW001 and is a unique oral formulation of edaravone which works by reducing the oxidative damage associated with neuron death in ALS.  TW001 is currently being evaluated in the pivotal ADORE phase III registration study at almost 40 global sites.

Australian neurologist Associate Professor Susan Mathers said around 2000 people were living with MND at any one time in Australia, and an oral therapy like edaravone presented the opportunity for patients to be managed at home. And key patient advocacy body MND Australia is also welcoming the potential for this new oral treatment option.

Under the terms of the licensing agreement, ST will be responsible for all marketing, regulatory and distribution activities of TW001 for ALS/MND in Australia and New Zealand.

Announcing the partnership, ST Chief Executive Officer Carlo Montagner said TW001 was the first central nervous system (CNS) therapy to be included in the company's therapeutic portfolio and the arrangement was further endorsement of ST's regional capabilities and focus on making available in this region unique therapies that would otherwise not be accessible.