TheraCryf allowed Canadian patent, reports preclinical progress
By Josh White
Date: Monday 26 Jan 2026
(Sharecast News) - TheraCryf said on Monday that it has received a notice of allowance from the Canadian Patent Office for its Orexin-1 addiction programme, completing patent grants across all major commercial markets including the US, Europe, Canada and key Asian territories.
The AIM-traded biotech said the patent would provide composition of matter protection, the strongest form of intellectual property cover, and deliver long-term exclusivity to materially strengthen the programme's commercial and partnering potential.
It also reported progress in its IND-enabling preclinical work, confirming that maximum tolerated dose studies have been successfully completed.
Two species were dosed up to the regulatory maximum of one gram per kilogram of the orexin-1 blocker, with no adverse clinical observations reported.
TheraCryf said the outcome would allow the programme to progress into repeat-dose dose range finding studies, which would inform dosing for planned 28-day regulatory toxicity studies scheduled for the first half of 2026, depending on species.
The company described it as a near-final step towards IND or CTA readiness targeted for 2026.
Ox-1 is TheraCryf's lead asset and is being developed as a potential treatment for addiction, including alcohol and other substance use disorders.
The company said the programme demonstrates class-leading selectivity and high receptor occupancy, attributes expected to support improved tolerability and efficacy, with preclinical data showing that blocking the orexin-1 pathway reduces aberrant substance-seeking behaviour in animal models.
"Securing the Canadian patent completes coverage across all major commercial markets for our Ox-1 programme and strengthens its long-term value," said chief operating officer Helen Kuhlman.
"Completion of our maximum tolerated dose studies further de-risks our best-in-class lead asset as we progress towards clinical readiness.
"We remain well positioned to generate key value inflection data and advance Ox-1 towards partnering opportunities."
At 1348 GMT, shares in TheraCryf were up 4.76% at 0.22p.
Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
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