Silo Pharma Partners with Global CRO For The Development Of CNS Homing Peptide Development

Silo Pharma, a biopharmaceutical company in its developmental stage, dedicated to creating innovative formulations and drug delivery systems for both traditional and psychedelic therapies, has announced a new partnership with WuXi AppTec (Hong Kong) Limited, a top global contract research organization (CRO). This collaboration will initiate a preclinical study on SPU-16, a peptide that targets the central nervous system (CNS) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Silo Pharma is progressing with the development of the SPU-16 liposomal homing peptide under a commercial evaluation license and option agreement with the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). The study aims to investigate the specificity of SPU-16 in targeting organs and tissues using an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model, the leading experimental framework for MS research. The peptide's established capability to home in on inflamed epithelium suggests its potential as a targeted drug delivery mechanism to combat spinal cord inflammation.

Eric Weisblum, CEO at Silo, said “We are excited to launch this new study of our novel CNS homing peptide under the management of WuXi AppTec, one of the largest CROs in Asia and globally. Designed to cross the blood-brain barrier and target damaged tissue and inflammation, SPU-16 has been shown to enhance the therapeutic effect of current and future therapeutics while decreasing the toxicity of the drugs. While we are currently investigating the peptide for MS, it could provide similar benefits for multiple neuroinflammatory pathologies.”

Multiple sclerosis (MS), an inflammatory disease that leads to demyelination in humans, is among the most common neurological disorders causing disability in young adults. The global market for MS drugs is expected to expand significantly, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9%, increasing from $21.2 billion in 2024 to $38.9 billion by 2032.