Serina Therapeutics Unveils Weekly Injectable To Tackle $3.7B Tardive Dyskinesia Market

Author: Benzinga Newsdesk | July 29, 2025 06:47am

Serina Therapeutics, Inc. ("Serina") (NYSE:SER), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing its proprietary POZ Platform™ drug optimization technology, today announced the advancement of its novel product candidate, SER-270, a proprietary POZ-conjugated vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor in development for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia (TD).

SER-270, also referred to as POZ-VMAT2i, leverages Serina's proprietary POZ polymer technology to enable long-acting, once weekly subcutaneous administration, offering a potentially transformative alternative to existing oral VMAT2 inhibitors. The candidate is designed to meet the needs of underserved TD patients who struggle with daily medication adherence, including those already managed with long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics.

Addressing Significant Unmet Needs in TD: A Large and Under-Treated Market

TD is a disabling and often stigmatizing movement disorder caused by long-term exposure to antipsychotic medications. It predominantly affects those with chronic psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder who may have difficulty adhering to complex daily medication regimens. While oral VMAT2 inhibitors are the only approved class for TD, uptake remains modest due to underdiagnosis, low disease awareness among clinicians, and the challenges of ensuring daily medication adherence in complex, high-risk populations. It is estimated that fewer than 30% of U.S. TD patients are diagnosed, and less than half of those receive pharmacologic treatment. Despite these challenges, the U.S. TD market exceeded $3.7 billion in sales in 2024, driven by increased recognition and broader reimbursement. Analysts project the market to grow to $5.4 billion by 2030, underscoring the significant opportunity for differentiated therapies that address adherence, access, and administration barriers.

POZ-VMAT2i is uniquely positioned to address these barriers by offering:

• Once-weekly, long-acting injectable administration, critical for patients non-compliant with daily oral medications, including those currently managed with long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics.
• Improved access for institutionalized patients, where daily oral therapy poses logistical challenges for nursing and care staff.
• A non-oral solution for patients with dysphagia (chewing/swallowing difficulties), a common complication among elderly and neurologically impaired individuals.
  
   

Expanding into Huntington's Disease Chorea: A High Need Secondary Indication

Serina also plans to explore development of POZ-VMAT2i for chorea associated with Huntington's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder marked by progressive movement impairment and often, serious swallowing difficulties. A weekly injectable therapy may offer meaningful advantages over current oral options for this population and their caregivers.

"POZ-VMAT2i embodies Serina's commitment to solving real-world challenges for patients and caregivers who are often left behind by traditional therapies," said Steve Ledger, Chief Executive Officer of Serina Therapeutics. "By targeting non-compliant, institutionalized, and dysphagic patients with a transformative once-weekly injectable, we believe we can meaningfully expand access to proven VMAT2 inhibitor therapy and improve patient lives."

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