Sentynl Therapeutics has licensed an investigational drug targeting progeria, a rare genetic disorder that causes rapid aging in children, adding a second potential therapy to its portfolio focused on the disease.
Sentynl, a subsidiary of Zydus Lifesciences, entered into a licensing agreement with PRG S&T for Progerinin (SLC-D011), an investigational oral small-molecule treatment for Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS).
Emerging Pharma Leaders nominations are now open!
Do you know someone who can make tough decisions that continue to face manufacturers? Are they destined to change the future of pharma?
Nominate a colleague with impressive leadership and career intentions – even yourself! – for the Pharmaceutical Executive 2026 Emerging Pharma Leaders Awards.
"This acquisition marks an important step in growing our portfolio of therapies for Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome, which can have severe impacts on patient health if left untreated," said Dr. Sharvil P. Patel, managing director at Zydus Lifesciences Limited. "Supporting patients in living healthy, fulfilled lives is core to what we do, and the agreement with PRG S&T directly furthers this mission by advancing orphan therapies for patients and families impacted by rare diseases."
Progerinin is designed to inhibit the harmful effects of progerin, an abnormal protein produced by a mutation in the LMNA gene.1 In HGPS, this mutation causes cells to produce progerin instead of normal lamin A, disrupting the structure of the cell nucleus and accelerating aging at the cellular level.
By targeting the progerin interaction within cells, Progerinin aims to improve nuclear integrity and reduce cellular damage.1 In mouse models of the disease, treated animals lived an average of 25.2 weeks compared to 16.8 weeks in untreated controls.
The drug is not currently approved by the FDA or any other regulatory authority, but it has received orphan drug designation from FDA.1
PRG S&T announced back in November that Progerinin was finalizing its Phase IIA study, and expects data results by the end of the first half of 2026.2
HGPS is an ultra-rare, fatal genetic disorder affecting children, characterized by dramatically accelerated aging.1 Children with the condition commonly die of atherosclerosis, the same cardiovascular disease that affects normally aging adults, at an average age of 14.5 years.
Symptoms include the following:
Currently, Zokinvy (lonafarnib) is the only FDA-approved treatment for HGPS, leaving significant unmet need for additional therapeutic options.1
Matt Heck, CEO of Sentynl, says the agreement reflects the company's commitment to translating scientific progress into real therapies for children and families affected by the disease. The Progeria Research Foundation, which funded the foundational research behind Progerinin's development, also welcomed the announcement.
"PRF's mission is to find treatments and the cure for progeria, and we are grateful for the efforts of PRG S&T and Sentynl to improve the lives of the children and young adults in our progeria patient community," said Leslie Gordon, medical director at the foundation.
Under the terms of the agreement, Sentynl is set to acquire full rights to the molecule upon the satisfaction of certain milestones, making Progerinin its second therapy in development for HGPS.1 The agreement enables Sentynl to begin working with PRG S&T immediately in order to advance the treatment’s clinical development.1
