Tempero Bio Halts Alcohol Use Disorder Program, Evaluates Options

Tempero Bio, a California-based biotechnology company, has suspended its phase 2-stage alcohol use disorder (AUD) program and is currently assessing its 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 compound was designed to target the underlying biology of addiction, with the aim of preventing relapse in AUD patients.

In addition to the AUD study, Tempero Bio had been evaluating TMP-301 in a drug-drug interaction study involving cocaine users, broadening the potential applications of the therapy.

Recent Developments and Financial Backdrop

The pause in the TMP-301 program comes as a surprise, given the recent momentum behind the project. Just eight months ago, Tempero Bio successfully raised $70 million in a series B funding round, with a significant portion of the proceeds intended to support the expansion of the TMP-301 program. This expansion was set to include "phase 3-enabling activities and preclinical studies for additional indications and formulations."

At the time of the funding announcement, Tempero's Chief Scientific Officer, Ricardo Dolmetsch, Ph.D., had expressed optimism about TMP-301's potential as a "novel therapy that helps prevent relapse by targeting the underlying biology of addiction."

Industry Implications and Next Steps

The decision to pause the TMP-301 program raises questions about the future of Tempero Bio's pipeline and the broader landscape of AUD treatment development. While the company is currently evaluating its options, the specifics of these considerations remain unclear.

The news of the program's suspension was briefly mentioned in Nxera's third-quarter earnings results, highlighting the interconnected nature of pharmaceutical partnerships and the potential ripple effects of such decisions on industry collaborations.

As the situation develops, stakeholders in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors will be watching closely to see how Tempero Bio navigates this challenge and what implications it may have for the future of AUD treatment research.