The first UK drug trial for Rett syndrome – hopes, fears, and a few tears
Rachael Bloom Stevenson – CEO, Reverse Rett & Becky Jenner – CEO, Rett UK

Rachael Bloom Stevenson and Becky Jenner are CEOs of UK Rett Syndrome charities, Reverse Rett and Rett UK respectively. Rett syndrome is a rare genetic disorder affecting brain development, which can cause severe mental and physical disabilities. Rachael and Becky both have daughters diagnosed with Rett syndrome, and both have participated UK’s first drug trial for the condition – a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the repurposed drug Sarizotan.

In their joint talk, Rachael will discuss Reverse Rett’s integral role in facilitating the implementation of the trial, and the on-going support they provide to the study. Becky will share her and her daughter’s personal experience of the trial, and the many hopes, fears and tears encountered along the way.

Becky Jenner
CEO, Rett UK

Rachael Bloom Stevenson
CEO, Reverse Rett

Prof. Ranganath
Director, NAC & Trustee, AKU Society

Repurposing nitisinone in alkaptonuria: a collaborative effort
Prof. Lakshminarayan Ranganath – Director, NAC and Trustee, AKU Society

Prof. Ranganath (Ranga) is Director for the National Alkaptonuria Centre (NAC) and co-founder and Trustee of the AKU Society. Alkaptonuria (AKU) is an ultra-rare genetic condition, also known as black bone disease, which can cause significant damage to bones, cartilage and tissue, as a result of patients being unable to break down a chemical called homogentisic acid.

The NAC, based at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, was established in June 2012 to provide assessments and treatment to people with alkaptonuria. The service is free on the NHS and open to anyone over 16 who has been diagnosed with AKU and living in England or Scotland. At the NAC, patients are also able to access nitisinone off label, a repurposed drug that has been shown to drastically reduce the harmful acid that produces symptoms of AKU.

In his talk, Ranga will share their efforts in developing and repurposing nitisinone, and the positive data they have collected at the NAC.

Pleotherapy – a new approach to drug discovery
Xavier Paoli – Chief Commerical Officer & Rodolphe Hajj – Chief Pharmacology Officer, Pharnext

Xavier Paoli and Rodolphe Hajj are Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Pharmacology Officer at Pharnext respectively.  Pharnext is an advanced-clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering a new research and development approach called Pleotherapy.

During their presentation, they will discuss the Pleotherapy platform to show how using big genomic data, and artificial intelligence tools, synergistic combinations of repurposed drugs are developed. These new drugs – called Pleodrugs – have numerous advantages, including: faster development processes, high efficacy, and excellent safety profiles.

Pharnext are currently working in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a genetic condition which damages the peripheral nerves, and have used this approach to develop a new treatment which has recently show success in both its primary and secondary endpoints in a phase 3 clinical trial.

Xavier Paoli
Chief Commerical Officer, Pharnext

Rodolphe Hajj
Chief Pharmacology Officer, Pharnext

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