Advancing a New Maternal-Fetal Treatment for Early-Onset Preeclampsia

Sébastien Mazzuri of EspeRare Foundation in Switzerland will reposition the oral drug terutroban as a candidate preventive for early-onset preeclampsia. Terutroban is a thromboxane receptor antagonist, with research data suggesting it could beneficially alter the physiological imbalance underlying preeclampsia. Terutroban was originally developed for secondary prevention of cardiovascular events, has extensive preclinical evaluation data, and was tested in a Phase 3 clinical trial that was discontinued early due to a lack of superiority compared to aspirin in preventing non-hemorrhagic cardiovascular events. Through collaborations, the EspeRare team will obtain preclinical data on terutroban for preeclampsia using two established rat models and a placental profusion model. They will also convene a scientific advisory board and develop comprehensive plans and data packages to guide clinical trial design and speed drug development and regulatory clearance.