Developer targeting abnormal muscle tone in Parkinson’s with its VIM0423
Vima planning trial launch to test its once-daily oral therapy for dystonia
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- Vima Therapeutics will launch a clinical trial this year to test its oral therapy VIM0423 for easing dystonia, or abnormal muscle tone, in Parkinson's.
- Dystonia involves involuntary muscle contractions, which lead to posture imbalances and abnormal movements.
- The developer also has secured $40 million in new financing for advancing its VIM0423 program, bring total investments to $100 million.
Vima Therapeutics is gearing up to launch a Phase 2 clinical trial this year to evaluate VIM0423, its potential first-in-class once-daily oral therapy for dystonia, or abnormal muscle tone, associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Meanwhile, the first participant has been dosed in Stride Dystonia, a Phase 2 clinical trial (NCT07304089) testing the therapy in adults with primary dystonia, for which the cause is genetic or unknown. Dystonia is marked by involuntary repetitive twisting and sustained muscle contractions, which result in posture imbalances and abnormal movements.
Topline data from both clinical trials are expected in the first half of 2027, the company said in a press release detailing advances in its VIM0423 program.
“As a neurologist, I have treated people with dystonia and Parkinson’s disease,” said Bernard Ravina, MD, founder and CEO of Vima. “I have seen the gaps and limitations of the current treatments in addressing important symptoms that affect daily function.”
Vima also announced additional financing for its VIM0423 program that brings the total investment to $100 million. The company called VIM423 “a first-in-class oral therapeutic,” and noted that the new funding will help advance the therapy into clinical trials.
Dystonia is characterized by involuntary muscle contractions that cause abnormal movements or postures. It arises from an imbalance between dopamine and acetylcholine, two interconnected yet often opposing signaling molecules in the brain that regulate motor control.
In Parkinson’s, this imbalance is driven by the death of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. It’s thought that a subsequent drop in dopamine levels leads to excessive acetylcholine signaling, triggering dystonia. It may also be a side effect of levodopa, the standard Parkinson’s treatment. In primary dystonia, the imbalance is due to genetic or unknown changes in the brain.
VIM0423 could mark new strategy for treating abnormal muscle tone
VIM0423 is designed to selectively target so-called muscarinic cholinergic receptors that are activated by acetylcholine. While this mechanism is well established in movement disorders, including Parkinson’s, existing therapies often cause side effects in both the brain and the body that limit treatment. Vima’s oral candidate therapy was engineered to improve both efficacy and tolerability.
“Dystonia and Parkinson’s share underlying disease biology driven by an imbalance in dopamine and acetylcholine signaling in the brain, and our results reinforce that we are on the right path to modulate this biology,” Ravina said.
An oral medication for the treatment of dystonia would be invaluable to patients and physicians alike. … No injections, no brain surgery! This drug shows true potential in providing a new approach to dystonia and related movement disorders.
VIM0423 has been granted fast track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of isolated dystonia. That status helps accelerate the development and review of drugs treating serious conditions that fill unmet medical needs.
Experts say an oral therapy could represent an important shift for dystonia care.
“An oral medication for the treatment of dystonia would be invaluable to patients and physicians alike,” said Cynthia L. Comella, MD, a professor at Rush University Medical Center in Illinois, who also serves as a scientific advisory board member at Vima.
“No injections, no brain surgery! This drug shows true potential in providing a new approach to dystonia and related movement disorders,” Comella said.
An earlier Phase 1 study evaluated the safety and tolerability of VIM0423 at different doses in both healthy volunteers and people with dystonia. That study also assessed the treatment’s pharmacokinetics, or how a drug moves into, through, and out of the body.
Across single- and multiple-dose groups, VIM0423 demonstrated a favorable safety profile and was well tolerated for as long as 28 days, or about one month, at and above target doses, according to Vima. The study also achieved and exceeded target exposure levels, supporting the drug’s potential to address the underlying cause of dystonia and the drug’s advancement into Phase 2 development.
“This is exciting news for the dystonia population,” Comella said.
Vima nets $40M in new financing to advance VIM0423
Alongside the clinical update, Vima announced additional financing — in the amount of $40 million — to support the completion of the two Phase 2 trials of VIM0423.
Funding came from new investor Frazier Life Sciences (FLS) and also from three current investors: Atlas Venture, Access Industries, and Canaan Partners. According to Vima, Joe Cabral, an FLS partner at FLS, will join the company’s board of directors.
“Our recent Phase 1 data give us confidence that VIM0423 may address those needs for people living with movement disorders,” Ravina said. “With this compelling foundation and our exceptional team, we are well positioned to advance VIM0423 into Phase 2 studies and develop a potential first-in-class oral medicine that’s designed to help patients regain control of their movement.”
