Bosses from the firm developing what could be the world’s first oral disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer's disease, stressed the importance of the region’s life sciences sector after meeting Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney earlier this week.
And as organisations across the region – and further afield – struggle to juggle economic and geopolitical concerns, Dr Glenn Corr, TauRx’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Business Officer, was eager to talk up the potential transformative long-term clinical and economic benefit companies like TauRx could have.
He said: “I firmly believe TauRx can act as an inspiration for others. With the research and clinical trial experience that we have grown within our company, we have shown it is possible to take a drug from the laboratory bench, scale up its manufacture and run global trials from a small corner of Scotland.
“We have successfully conducted four Phase 3 global clinical trials entirely from Aberdeen, far removed from the Golden Triangle.
“With plans to double the cluster here in the north-east by 2030 on track, it’s an exciting time for the industry and we are proud to be a part of it.”
TauRx has submitted a Marketing Authorisation Application for its drug – which targets a key driver of dementia progression – to the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
And CEO Professor Claude Wischik agreed the sector has a critical role to play.
He said: “This meeting highlights the government’s recognition of the important role life sciences can play in supporting the growth of Scotland’s economy.
“Having built a team that has successfully conducted four Phase III global clinical trials from Aberdeen, we have demonstrated for the first time that world-leading research, development, and clinical execution can be delivered successfully from the north-east.”
Should the company receive marketing authorisation, TauRx’s ambition is to launch its potentially transformative treatment for dementia from the north-east, which would make it the first independent biotech company in Scotland to launch a major drug treatment across the UK.
