EpilepsyGTx Taps ClearPoint Neuro for EPY201 Clinical Trial Delivery

EpilepsyGTx and ClearPoint Neuro announced a partnership July 14 to support MRI-guided delivery of the gene therapy candidate EPY201 in an upcoming Phase 1/2a clinical trial for focal refractory epilepsy. EpilepsyGTx said it will use the ClearPoint SmartFlow Cannula and ClearPoint Neuro Navigation system to administer EPY201 in the first-in-human trial. ClearPoint's MRI-guided stereotactic navigation and delivery platform is designed to support sub-millimetric accuracy for delivery to defined targets in the brain, enabling intraprocedural visualization of delivery to the intended seizure focus. Focal refractory epilepsy affects approximately 10 million patients worldwide, including two million patients in the US, UK, and EU. EPY201 is designed to be delivered directly into the seizure focus with the aim of reducing neuronal hyperexcitability locally while limiting exposure beyond the target region. Nicolas Koebel, CEO of EpilepsyGTx, said accurate delivery to the seizure focus is central to the potential of EPY201 and that ClearPoint's guided navigation system provides the precision and intraprocedural visualization needed for first-in-human trials. Jeremy Stigall, Chief Business Officer and General Manager of Biologics and Drug Delivery at ClearPoint Neuro, stated the company is pleased to partner with EpilepsyGTx as the team advances the program into clinical evaluation.