India-based Mankind Pharma has invested in a clinical stage specialty pharmaceutical company, Actimed Therapeutics, UK, which is focused on bringing innovation to the treatment of cancer cachexia, an unmet medical need for cancer patients, and other muscle wasting disorders.

Mankind’s investment helped Actimed close its second and final tranche of seed financing. Actimed is developing its lead asset S-pindolol for the treatment of cancer cachexia and has successfully completed a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) study for the drug which met all pre-defined objectives.

This is a key clinical milestone supporting its further clinical development based on which Actimed is now planning Phase 2b/3 studies in cancer cachexia which will be conducted in strategic markets. The investment will support Actimed’s planned clinical development activities including the preparation for the Phase 2b/3 programme for S-pindolol benzoate.

Following the investment, Atish Majumdar, President (Sales & Marketing) of Mankind Pharma joins Actimed Therapeutics as a member of its Board of Directors.