Sareum halts toxicology study after control-group safety findings
By Iain Gilbert
Date: Friday 10 Oct 2025
(Sharecast News) - Clinical-stage biotechnology firm Sareum said on Friday that it has discontinued its 16-week pre-clinical toxicology study for autoimmune and cancer candidate SDC-1801 after safety issues were flagged by a third-party provider.
The AIM-listed firm said dosing had been terminated and the study would be formally closed following final analysis. A preliminary review suggests the issues were "highly unlikely to be related to SDC-1801", with Sareum now working with consultants to determine next steps.
Sareum stated the findings were observed more frequently in control-group animals given an inactive solution than in those dosed with SDC-1801.
The study was intended to support longer-term dosing ahead of a planned Phase 2 trial in psoriasis, with Sareum now in talks with alternative providers to restart the study.
Sareum reiterated that its Phase 1 trial in healthy volunteers met all primary objectives, with no safety concerns identified and a pharmacokinetic profile consistent with once-daily dosing.
Executive chairman Dr Stephen Parker said: "While the need to terminate this study is frustrating, the preliminary data strongly suggest that the findings are unlikely to be associated with SDC-1801.
"Dosing has been terminated out of concern for animal welfare, and we are working closely with our partners and experts to understand the cause and identify a new provider with the aim of restarting the study as quickly as possible with our existing cash resources."
As of 0930 BST, Sareum shares had sunk 29.65% to 14p.
Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com
Email this article to a friend
or share it with one of these popular networks:
You are here: news
10 Lower Thames St,
London EC3R 6EN