Tempero Bio Halts Alcohol Use Disorder Program, Reevaluating Options

Tempero Bio, a California-based biotech company, has suspended its phase 2-stage alcohol use disorder (AUD) program and is currently assessing its strategic options, according to its partner Nxera Pharma. This unexpected development comes just eight months after the launch of a phase 2 study for TMP-301, the company's lead candidate for AUD treatment.

TMP-301: From Promise to Pause

TMP-301, an mGluR5 negative allosteric modulator, was initially developed using Nxera Pharma's NxWave discovery platform. Tempero Bio acquired the license for the drug in 2020, positioning it as a potential breakthrough in addiction treatment.

The phase 2 study, initiated earlier this year, aimed to evaluate TMP-301's efficacy in patients with AUD. Concurrent with the trial launch, Tempero Bio secured a substantial $70 million series B funding round, part of which was earmarked for expanding the TMP-301 program, including "phase 3-enabling activities and preclinical studies for additional indications and formulations."

Shifting Priorities and Uncertain Future

The decision to pause the TMP-301 program marks a significant shift in Tempero Bio's strategy. As recently as eight months ago, the company's Chief Scientific Officer, Ricardo Dolmetsch, Ph.D., had described TMP-301 as a "novel therapy that helps prevent relapse by targeting the underlying biology of addiction."

In addition to the AUD study, Tempero had been conducting a drug-drug interaction study involving TMP-301 in individuals using cocaine, further emphasizing the company's commitment to addressing substance use disorders.

The abrupt halt to these programs raises questions about the future of TMP-301 and Tempero Bio's overall direction. While the company is currently evaluating its options, the specifics of these deliberations and the factors leading to the program's suspension remain unclear.

As the pharmaceutical industry continues to grapple with the challenges of developing effective treatments for addiction, Tempero Bio's decision underscores the complexities and uncertainties inherent in drug development, particularly in the field of neuroscience and substance use disorders.