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REMAIN IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE

You may not have heard of ‘Allopregnanolone’, but you could well care for one of the millions who suffer from its effects.

From Tourette syndrome to Menstrual Migraine to OCD, PTSD, stress-related fatigue, compulsive gambling, addiction and PMDD—the potent neurosteroid Allopregnanolone is implicated in them all.

Our novel treatment Sepranolone is the endogenous compound that modulates the effects of Allopregnanolone. It has been developed from over 40 years’ neuroendocrinological research.

Home / Menstrual migraine / Sepranolone & menstrual migraine

SEPRANOLONE & MENSTRUAL MIGRAINE

Latest Press Release

Asarina Pharma AB (publ) Interim Report Q2 2020 released

SEPRANOLONE

“I believe Sepranolone will always attract interest from clinicians and patients, whatever indication it is launched for.”

Professor Marie Bixo, University of Umeå

The neurochemical GABA is the brain’s most powerful inhibitory neurotransmitter. It plays a crucial role in inhibiting and reducing stress, fear and anxiety levels. But what keeps GABA in check? The neurosteroid Allopregnanolone (or ALLO) is a potent modulator of GABA, acting on the GABA-A receptor, a major pathway for GABA within the brain.

The body’s endogenous compound—Sepranolone—regulates and modulates the negative effects of ALLO. Asarina Pharma is the first company to have developed and synthesized Sepranolone as a medication, patenting a pharmaceutical formulation in 2010.

Sepranolone has achieved an excellent safety profile in substantial clinical trials and is currently being run in a study for Menstrual Migraine. It will be tested in a Tourette syndrome study in 2021.

MENSTRUAL MIGRAINE

“For five days every month normal life grinds to a halt… and disabling pain takes over.”

Therese, 38, Germany

Menstrual Migraine is a disabling form of migraine with severe, prolonged attacks. It impacts approx. 50 million women worldwide. MM is often resistant to current standard treatments, including CGRP antibodies. Yet there has never been a specific therapy to treat it. Until now. Our Phase IIA trial for Sepranolone—a prophylactic treatment designed to prevent Menstrual Migraine symptoms from even occurring—is now underway.

TOURETTE SYNDROME

“I believe we are on the crest of a new wave of understanding of just how broad the impact of Allopregnanolone really is. Compulsivity impacts on so many different conditions, from ADHD and OCD/B through to eating disorders and addiction.”

Assoc prof Marco Bortolato, University of Utah

Tourette’s syndrome is a cruel condition typically striking first between the ages of 3 – 9 years old. Yet many current treatments, like the anti-psychotic Haldol, have severe side effects ranging from blurred vision, nausea and diarrhoea to involuntary movement disorder, irregular heartbeat and even renal failure.

Sepranolone: A safer approach

In May 2019 Asarina Pharma demonstrated in a preclinical animal study that Sepranolone reduced tics on a par with Haldol, without inducing any motor side effects. Asarina Pharma CEO Peter Nordkild: “This is a new approach, and a safe one. There are no neurosteroid-based medications currently being used to treat TS. A positive result would be extremely promising for patients, and indicate that Sepranolone could potentially play a part in treating a range of other ALLO-related stress disorders.”