(Alliance News) - Evgen Pharma PLC on Thursday said that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry to advance SFX-01 towards a clinical trial for treatment of chronic kidney disease.
The company's SFX-01 product is a patented composition of synthetic sulforaphane and alpha-cyclodextrin. 
Under the agreement the clinical stage drug development company will supply SFX-01 to support a potential future clinical trial led by Thu Le, professor of medicine and Nephrology division chief at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
The company said Le will lead the process to secure appropriate grant funding and obtain clinical trial regulatory approval.
"The intention is to investigate in a randomised controlled trial whether treatment with SFX-01 can decrease kidney disease progression rate and decrease markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in chronic kidney disease patients. In particular, the study will test whether patients with the null allele of the GSTM1 gene respond better than wild type or placebo-treated patients," Evgen said.
Clinical data arising from a successful trial would provide a sound rationale to apply for funding, the company said, for a large randomised trial to test the efficacy of SFX-01 in slowing the rate of decline of patients with later stage chronic kidney disease.
Evgen Pharma shares in London were down 1.0% at 5.00 pence each.
By Tapan Panchal; tapanpanchal@alliancenews.com
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Evgen Pharma (EVG)