MAPREG “The Cytoskeleton Company” is an R&D performing Biopharmaceutical Company dedicated to develop and market innovative and breakthrough products for the therapy of CNS disorders. The president and founder of the company is Prof. Etienne E. Baulieu a world renowned scientist, member of the French and American Academies of Sciences and recipient of a Lasker award for the discovery of the RU486 and the principles of neurosteroids.
MAPREG molecules (neurosteroids-derivatives) are based on an innovative mechanism of action namely the binding to the microtubule-associated protein type 2 (MAP-2) and subsequent modulation of neuronal cytoskeletal microtubule dynamics and structural neuronal plasticity. These molecules have no equals, to the best of our knowledge, either in development or in the market and are an original discovery of the MAPREG research team. MAPREG compounds are envisaged for the therapy of CNS disorders characterized by damages at the neuronal structural level where alterations at the cytoskeletal microtubules are between the main pathological events such as traumatic injuries, psychiatric diseases and neurodegenerative disorders.
MAP4343 (patented), the MAPREG lead compound, has succesfully completed phase 1 and is expected to start phase 2 for the treatment of spinal cord injury before in mid 2012. It received from the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) an orphan designation for the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI).MAP4343 is under investigation as a potential innovative therapy for the treatment of depression. The study named DEPSTER has been awarded a EUROSTARS/EUREKA grant in collaboration with the German Primate Centre (Gottingen; Germany).