Neuren Pharmaceuticals’ drug trofinetide achieved US Food and Drug Administration approval for treatment of Rett syndrome in March this year, and there is no doubt that it is an extraordinary achievement for all those scientists throughout New Zealand, Australia and the US who contributed to its development. Therefore, it was with great disappointment that the Clever Kiwis article “The right chemistry” (April 15) focused mainly on the role of Professor Margaret Brimble in this process. It is, at best, out of context, and at worst, misleading.
The story of trofinetide began in the early 90s with Sir Peter Gluckman and his team of scientists and postgraduate students working on IGF-1, a hormone that is important for brain development and cognition. The team of scientists, including myself and Professor Mike Dragunow, set out to uncover the brain-made mechanisms to reduce damage after suffering a brain injury.
Under Sir Peter’s guidance and mentorship, I discovered that administering IGF-1 into the brain has neuroprotective effects in animal models. These findings led to the formation of NeuronZ, the first spinout company from the University of Auckland, which aimed to use these breakthrough findings and continue commercial research.
