Vandria, a Swiss biopharmaceutical company, has initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial for VNA-318, a small molecule designed to enhance mitophagy in the fight against age-related diseases.

The compound is protected by a US patent, and preclinical studies have demonstrated a significant safety margin along with its effectiveness in reducing neuroinflammation.

Professor Li-Huei Tsai, a member of Vandria's Scientific Advisory Board, commended VNA-318's preclinical results, which showed consistent efficacy across multiple neurodegenerative disease models.

As the Alzheimer's therapy market is expected to grow from $6 billion in 2024 to a compound annual growth rate of 12% by 2035, Vandria is strategically positioned to capture a substantial share.

Preclinical findings suggest that VNA-318 may not only improve cognitive functions but also mitigate neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction.

The ongoing trial will evaluate VNA-318's safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics in healthy male participants, with initial results anticipated by summer 2025.

Beyond CNS diseases, Vandria is also investigating mitophagy-inducing compounds for non-CNS conditions, including muscle, liver, and lung diseases, following Phase 2 trials.

Dr. Klaus Dugi, Vandria's CEO, emphasized the potential of VNA-318 to meet medical needs related to mild cognitive impairment and major depressive disorder.

Future clinical trials will focus on including a more diverse participant pool to ensure VNA-318's efficacy across various demographics, particularly among women and elderly patients.

Vandria has successfully raised $32 million in Series A funding and plans to launch Phase 1b/2a trials in early 2026, expanding its therapeutic pipeline to address non-CNS conditions.

Mitophagy plays a vital role in maintaining cellular health, especially in combating mitochondrial dysfunction associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.