BenevolentAI (OTC:BAIVF), a pioneering company in leveraging advanced artificial intelligence for faster drug discovery, has unveiled promising safety outcomes from its initial human trial of BEN-8744, potentially marking a significant step forward in developing treatments for ulcerative colitis (UC).
Conducted on healthy volunteers, this phase Ia study showed that BEN-8744, an orally taken drug aimed at inhibiting the enzyme phosphodiesterase 10 (PDE10), was safe and caused no serious adverse effects across various dosage groups.
Notably, despite concerns over potential central nervous system (CNS) side effects associated with PDE10 inhibitors, BEN-8744 triggered no such issues.
The study's findings indicated that taking BEN-8744 twice daily could effectively target PDE10, suggesting a potential therapeutic benefit treating UC.
“We are pleased to report the topline data from this first-in-human study of BEN-8744 in healthy volunteers, which are in line with our ambition to have a molecule with the potential to be devoid of the adverse safety profile that has plagued previous members of this class of agents," said Dr. Joerg Moeller, CEO of BenevolentAI (OTC:BAIVF).
"As we work up the full results from the Phase Ia trial and finish the required Phase II-enabling preclinical studies for more extended dosing, we will continue to evaluate our options for the further development of this drug candidate.”