Singapore: Bionomics has been advised by its licensee, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, that following the submission of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the US FDA last month, the planned phase I clinical trial of the investigational anti-anxiety drug candidate IW-2143 (BNC210) has begun in the US. 

The trial is designed to assess the safety and pharmacokinetics of IW-2143 in healthy volunteers, using single and multi-dose administration. 

"This is the first US clinical trial of IW-2143 and this news is welcomed by Bionomics as a strong signal of the progress being made by Ironwood in moving ahead with the study of IW-2143," said CEO and managing director of Bionomics, Dr Deborah Rathjen. "As this trial progresses it is anticipated that a $2 million milestone payment to Bionomics by Ironwood will be triggered."

Ironwood is responsible for developing and, if approved, commercialising IW-2143 and related compounds, including paying for the costs of clinical development.