Melior Discovery Tapped as Preclinical CRO for Linnaeus Therapeutics' Healthspan Program

Melior Discovery, Inc. (Melior), a contract research organization specializing in in vivo pharmacology, has been selected by Linnaeus Therapeutics, Inc. (Linnaeus) to support its ARPA-H-funded PROSPR program. The collaboration will focus on preclinical studies for Linnaeus' drug candidate, LNS8801, aimed at preserving healthspan.

Under the agreement, Melior will perform all in vivo pharmacology aging studies required for the preclinical foundation of the multiphase research program. These studies will incorporate Olden Labs' DOME smart-lid technology for continuous home-cage monitoring and AI-assisted tracking of behavioral and physiological measures in aging mice.

LNS8801 is being developed as a first-in-class oral selective agonist of GPER, intended to preserve intrinsic capacity – the physical and cognitive abilities that underpin independence and resilience later in life. Linnaeus received up to $22 million from ARPA-H's PROSPR program to advance this development.

"We are very pleased to be working with Melior Discovery on this program," said Patrick Mooney, M.D., CEO of Linnaeus Therapeutics. "Their depth of in vivo pharmacology expertise and rigorous approach to preclinical study design make them an important partner."

Melior Discovery, based in Exton, Pennsylvania, has over 20 years of experience in providing preclinical in vivo pharmacology services to the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries.