XW Laboratories, a biopharmaceutical Research and Development company focused on neurological disorders with operation sites in Wuhan and Taipei,  announced an exclusive licensing agreement with the University of Pittsburgh to further commercialize a class of novel compounds based on pioneering mitochondria targeted bis-nitroxide technology developed in the laboratory of Professor Peter Wipf.

Mitochondria control energetics, metabolic pathways, stress response and cell death, and are central to many human diseases. Over the past decade, the Wipf lab has played a major role in designing small molecule therapeutics that regulate mitochondrial processes and manage lipid membrane composition.

The novel mitochondria targeted bis-nitroxide compounds licensed by XW Labs present a unique opportunity for the company to develop new therapies for a broad range of possible indications in the Central Nervous System (CNS) and oncology. Professor Wipf and his research group have developed mitochondrial targeted proof-of-concept compounds that have demonstrated efficacy in animal disease models such as Huntington’s Disease and Traumatic Brain Injury. Their research findings have been published in high-profile journals including Nature Neuroscience and Cell Reports.

"XW Labs is very excited to partner with the University of Pittsburgh on the commercialization of these compounds derived from Mitochondria-targeting technology. Our company is uniquely positioned to develop these compounds which have potential indications from neurodegenerative diseases to oncology," said Jia-Ning Xiang, founder and CEO of XW Labs. "We plan to initiate preclinical studies by the end of this year."

In the two and half years since its foundation, XW Labs has established a diversified portfolio in the CNS area. The company’s flagship program, which is currently going through pre-clinical toxicology studies, features an internally developed novel prodrug compound for two CNS indications. Phase 1 clinical trials for this program are expected to be launched in the second half of 2017.