Website www.trophos.com Parent organization Roche Holding AG | Defunct 2015 (2015) Founded 1998 | |
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Fate Acquired by Hoffmann-La Roche Founders Michel Delaage, Jean-Louis Kraus, Christopher Henderson, Olivier Pourquie, Antoine Beret | ||
Trophos prototype
Trophos was a biopharmaceutical company specialising in the discovery and development of novel therapeutics to treat both orphan neurodegenerative diseases and more prevalent disorders.
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Trophos was founded in 1999 in Marseille by three scientists: Christopher Henderson, Olivier Pourquie and Jean-Louis Kraus, and two entrepreneurs: Antoine Beret and Michel Delaage. Trophos' lead compound was olesoxime (TRO19622). Olesoxime is a mitochondrial targeted compound, which is a member of a new class of therapeutic agents aimed at bringing significant therapeutic benefit to patients suffering from devastating neurological diseases.
Results from an international, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II study involving 165 type II and non-ambulatory type III patients with spinal muscular atrophy, completed in February 2014 to assess safety and efficacy of olesoxime (TRO19622) showed that patients treated with olesoxime were able to maintain motor function over the two-year period of the study and that typical health complications associated with SMA occurred less frequently than in patients treated with a placebo, leading to better well being.
In January 2015, Hoffmann-La Roche announced its intention to buy Trophos for €120,000,000 upfront and up to €350,000,000 in milestone performance payments. The deal was completed shortly afterwards.