Lipid Research
Melitherapy
A new pharmaceutical perspective
Melitherapy (short for Membrane-Lipid Therapy) is an innovative scientific platform based on the discovery and rational design of drugs which specifically target lipids of the cell membrane. This contrasts with the usual approach to drug design, which targets proteins to elucidate their structure and then uses molecules (chemicals, antibodies, etc.) that directly regulate their activity.
In melitherapy, we use synthetic fatty acids that modify the composition and fluidity of the cell membrane to interfere with the activity of membrane-associated proteins responsible for disease processes, such as tumor growth.
Next-generation medicines
Thanks to this disruptive innovation, we will develop new medicines with an exceptional safety/efficacy combination for serious pathologies where other treatments fail, such as cancer, neurodegenerative or metabolic diseases.
Through different clinical trials, we are evaluating the potential translation of significant clinical benefit to patients who receive melitherapy drugs. Study MIN-001-1203 is the first clinical trial with 2-hydroxyoleic (LAM561A1) in patients with advanced solid tumors, including malignant glioma, and it has already been completed with very promising results.
Pathologies
We work on severe diseases with limited treatment options
Our most advanced line of research is for therapies in oncology. Several of our late-stage clinical trials focus on the very promising antitumoral effects of 2-hydroxyoleic acid (LAM561A1) in glioma, brain tumor, in adults and in children.
Since our origins in 2006, we have focused on rare, pediatric and geriatric diseases, especially those with unmet medical needs. We are also developing melitherapy drugs for Alzheimer’s disease, and for metabolic, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases.
Clinical Trials
MIN-001-1203
A Phase 1/2a Dose Escalation Study of 2-Hydroxyoleic Acid (2-OHOA) in Adult Patients with Advanced Solid Tumours Including Malignant Glioma.
EudraCT #2012-001527-13 – clinicaltrials.gov #NCT01792310
More information
This trial is an open label, non-randomized study in patients with advanced solid tumours including malignant glioma and consists of two phases: (1) a dose-escalation phase following a standard “3+3” design to establish dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and a safe dose of 2-OHOA and (2) an expansion phase with two expanded safety cohorts (approximately 10 of whom have malignant glioma and approximately 10 of whom have other advanced solid tumours that are suitable for biopsy) treated at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). MIN-001-1203 trial has been conducted in leading investigational sites in London, Newcastle, Barcelona, San Sebastian and Bilbao.
Recruitment and treatment of patients in MIN-001-1203 study have completed. A total of 54 patients have been treated, of which 46 are evaluable for safety assessment. 32 patients were recruited in 7 cohorts in the Dose-Escalation Phase and 22 patients in two safety expansion cohorts in the expanded phase. Results of the study are currently being evaluated and have confirmed an excellent safety profile, while promising clinical activity (by RANO / RECIST v1.1) has been reported in several cases, including patients with recurrent malignant glioma.
MIN-002-1801
A Phase 1b Dose Finding Study of the Safety of 2-Hydroxyoleic Acid Sodium Salt (2-OHOA) Administered Orally in Combination with Temozolomide and Radiation Therapy (Concurrent Phase) or Temozolomide Alone (Maintenance Phase) in the First Line Treatment of Subjects with Glioblastoma.
EudraCT #2018-000317-21 – clinicaltrials.gov #NCT03867123
More information
First-line treatment for patients with GBM consists of a concurrent phase (one 6-week cycle with daily administration of temozolomide (TMZ)) during which TMZ is given with Radiation Therapy (RT), followed by a rest phase (4 weeks in duration;), and a maintenance phase, during which patients receive TMZ for up to six 28-day cycles. The purpose of this study is to determine the highest safe dose of 2-OHOA administered orally in combination with temozolomide (TMZ) and radiation therapy (RT) during the concurrent phase, and in combination with TMZ alone during the maintenance phase. This study has been successfully executed in 3 hospitals in Spain without any adverse event due to 2-OHOA treatment.
MIN-001P-1501
A Phase 1/2a Study of 2-Hydroxyoleic Acid in Pediatric Patients with Malignant Glioma and Other Advanced Solid Tumors.
clinicaltrials.gov: #NCT04299191
More information
An open label, non-randomized study in pediatric patients with advanced high-grade gliomas and other solid tumors. The study will be performed in two phases – a dose escalation phase in up to 18 patients following a standard “3+3” design to establish dose limiting toxicity (DLT) and a “safe” dose of 2-OHOA followed by an expanded safety cohort of up to 10 patients treated at the MTD. If the MTD is well tolerated in the expanded safety cohort, that dose becomes the RP2D.
IND approved. Patient recruitment opened in the USA leaded by the pediatric clinical research institution Hackensack UMC, NJ.
MIN-003-1806
A Phase 2b/3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Adaptive, Placebo-Controlled Adjuvant Trial in Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma (NDGBM) Patients to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of 2-Hydroxyoleic Acid (LAM561) in Combination with Radiotherapy and Temozolomide Standard of Care Treatment.
EUdraCT # 2018-000365-37 – clinicaltrials.gov: #NCT04250922
Recruitment completed
More information
This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2 parallel arms (1:1 ratio), adjuvant trial to assess the efficacy and safety of 2-hydroxyoleic acid (LAM561) versus placebo in patients with newly diagnosed GBM IDH wildtype. In both arms, patients will receive the SoC and will be randomized to receive either placebo (Arm A) or 2-OHOA (Arm B).
PIIB Protocol design and regulatory strategy agreed with EMA (Sep. 2018) CTA process ongoing in IL, SP, FR, UK, IT & NL. Up to 25 sites planned to recruit patients as of Q1 2019.
Expanded Access Policy
Laminar Pharmaceuticals is a pioneering biopharmaceutical company, focused on the discovery, rational design and initial clinical development of drugs to treat oncological and other pathologies. All our compounds are based on a novel therapeutic approach: Membrane Lipid Therapy (MLT), or melitherapy for short. We are a science driven company committed to putting patients first. Our goal is to provide access to our investigational therapies at the appropriate time and in the correct manner for patients.
Clinical trials and the generation of safety and efficacy data are the most appropriate and effective way of ensuring objective review and decision making by Regulatory Authorities (FDA, EMA, or similar competent regulatory agencies). This process ultimately provides access to innovative, new, safe, and effective approved medicines for patients.
Laminar Pharmaceuticals understands that some patients may wish to access investigational medicines that are not yet approved for marketing by the regulatory authorities. Following an updated internal regulatory and medical review, the Company has revised the status of the Expanded Access/Compassionate Use Program (CUP) Policy for LAM561 (idroxioleic acid) in Spain from not-allowed to open with restrictions for supply on an individual named patient basis only. LAM561 is currently being investigated
as a potential treatment for malignant glioma. Spain is the region under Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios (AEMPS)’ regulatory authority. Updated clinical and scientific data is available to support the potential benefit and safety profile of idroxioleic acid, and together supply, pharmacovigilance, and risk
management commitments are further clarified to ensure compliance with Spanish Real Decreto 1015/2009, AEMPS requirements, and Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament for General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This updated Policy applies exclusively to adult patients with glioblastoma who have
exhausted all authorized therapeutic alternatives and who are not eligible for participation in ongoing clinical trials, as detailed in the Medicamentos en Situaciones Especiales (MSE) platform and after its revision and approval by AEMPS and Laminar Pharmaceuticals SA.
Support for compassionate use is strictly conditional upon prior authorization by the AEMPS through the MSE platform, submission of a complete and patient-specific clinical justification by the treating physician, formal authorization by the healthcare center, and confirmation of investigational medicinal product availability. Physicians must adhere strictly to the conditions authorized by AEMPS, including the indication for which it may be used, dosing regimen, duration of treatment, and safety monitoring requirements; and must obtain written
informed consent of the patient prior to treatment initiation, and must ensure timely reporting of all suspected adverse reactions in accordance with applicable pharmacovigilance obligations. No treatment may be initiated, modified, or continued outside the scope of the individual authorization granted by AEMPS.
The CUP will be terminated by Laminar Pharmaceuticals once the regulatory agency (EMA/AEMPS) approves the LAM561 for commercial use. Nevertheless, this policy may be revised by Laminar Pharmaceuticals at any time, and the CUP policy might be maintained as long as does not negatively impact on, interfere with, or compromise the clinical development of LAM561. A request for compassionate use on a named patient basis must be initiated by the treating physician. For any questions relating to the compassionate use program please contact reg.affairs@laminarpharma.com. You can expect a response within five (5) business days.
Disclaimer
This information is provided for regulatory and medical information purposes only. It does not constitute promotional material, a treatment recommendation, or a guarantee of access to the investigational medicinal product. Compassionate use requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis, are subject to AEMPS authorization, and may be limited, modified, or withdrawn at any time based on regulatory, medical, safety, or supply considerations. Treating physicians remain solely responsible for the clinical management of their patients and for compliance with all applicable legal, ethical, and pharmacovigilance requirements. Availability of the investigational medicinal product is not assured and will be updated in the Medicamentos en Situaciones
Especiales (MSE) platform accordingly.
Effective 24 March 2026
Collaborations
Scientific partnerships with leading research institutions and hospitals
We currently head a consortium of 12 leading clinical and research institutions from across Europe in the CLINGLIO project, designed to test the efficacy and safety of our most promising anticancer drug, LAM561 (2OHOA). Our goal is to execute “A Clinical Phase IIB trial with 2OHOA in patients with newly-diagnosed malignant glioma”, and to this end we have been awarded a 6,15 million euro grant by the European Commission. Find out more at the CLINGLIO project website. We are also working with the Fundación Rioja Salud, in Spain.
Current Public Funding
This research is supported by:
- European Commission H2020 Framework Programme (agreement number 755179 and 101033275)
- Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad and European Regional Development Fund (grant numbers RTC-2015- 3542 and RTC-2015-4094)
- Spanish research agency (Grants DI-14-06701 and DI-17-09187)
- Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (grant numbers RTC-2019-007399-1)
- Balearic Island Government and European Regional Development Fund (grants number ES01/TCAI/53_2016; PROCOE/5/2017; ES01/TCAI/21_2017 and ES01/BT/21)
- Balearic Island Government and European Social Fund (grants number PD/036/2016; FPI/1981/2016; FPI/2063/2017; FPI/2177/2018; FPI_063_2020 and PD/058/2020)
- Ajuts per millorar la competitivitat del teixit productiu i diversificar el model econòmic de les illes balears (Línia CAIB-ISBA 2022). Aquesta activitat ha estat beneficiària d’ajuts per millorar el seu accés al finançcament cofinançades per la Unió Europea.
Papers
READ OUR PUBLISHED RESEARCH
2024 – Rodríguez-Lorca R, Román R, Beteta-Göbel R, et al. Targeting the Notch-Furin axis with 2-hydroxyoleic acid: a key mechanism in glioblastoma therapy. Cell Oncol (Dordr). Published online October 14, 2024. doi:10.1007/s13402-024-00995-x
2024 – Escribá PV, Gil-Agudo ÁM, Vidal Samsó J, et al. Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicentric, phase IIA clinical trial for evaluating the safety, tolerability, and therapeutic efficacy of daily oral administration of NFX88 to treat neuropathic pain in individuals with spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord. 2024;62(8):454-467. doi:10.1038/s41393-024-01006-4
2024 – Kakhlon O, Saada A, Escriba PV. Editorial: Metabolic modulation of cellular function [published correction appears in Front Cell Dev Biol. 2024 Apr 11;12:1403128. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1403128]. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2024;12:1395922. Published 2024 Mar 18. doi:10.3389/fcell.2024.1395922
2023 – Agrillo B, Porritiello A, Gratino L, et al. Antimicrobial activity, membrane interaction and structural features of short arginine-rich antimicrobial peptides. Front Microbiol. 2023;14:1244325. Published 2023 Oct 5. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2023.1244325
2023 – Lopez J, Lai-Kwon J, Molife R, et al. A Phase 1/2A trial of idroxioleic acid: first-in-class sphingolipid regulator and glioma cell autophagy inducer with antitumor activity in refractory glioma. Br J Cancer. 2023;129(5):811-818. doi:10.1038/s41416-023-02356-1
2023 – Fernández-García P, Malet-Engra G, Torres M, et al. Evolving Diagnostic and Treatment Strategies for Pediatric CNS Tumors: The Impact of Lipid Metabolism. Biomedicines. 2023;11(5):1365. Published 2023 May 5. doi:10.3390/biomedicines11051365
2023 – Álvarez R, Escribá PV. Structural Basis of the Interaction of the G Proteins, Gαi1, Gβ1γ2 and Gαi1β1γ2, with Membrane Microdomains and Their Relationship to Cell Localization and Activity. Biomedicines. 2023;11(2):557. Published 2023 Feb 14. doi:10.3390/biomedicines11020557
2022 – Ambrosio RL, Rosselló CA, Casares D, Palmieri G, Anastasio A, Escribá PV. The Antimicrobial Peptide 1018-K6 Interacts Distinctly with Eukaryotic and Bacterial Membranes, the Basis of Its Specificity and Bactericidal Activity. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(20):12392. Published 2022 Oct 16. doi:10.3390/ijms232012392
2022 – Beteta-Göbel R, Miralles M, Fernández-Díaz J, et al. HCA (2-Hydroxy-Docosahexaenoic Acid) Induces Apoptosis and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(17):9902. Published 2022 Aug 31. doi:10.3390/ijms23179902
2022 – Kumudesh Mishra, Mária Péter, Anna Maria Nardiello, Guy Keller, Victoria Llado, Paula Fernandez-Garcia, Ulf D. Kahlert, Dinorah Barasch, Ann Saada, Zsolt Török, Gábor Balogh, Pablo V.Escriba, Stefano Piotto and Or Kakhlon. Cells 2022.11, 578.
2022 – Javier Fernández-Díaz, Roberto Beteta-Göbel, Manuel Torres, Joan Cabot, Paula Fernández-García, Victoria Lladó, Pablo V.Escribá and Xavier Busquets Frontiers 2022. V12, Art 782525.
2021 – Manuel Torres, Sebastià Parets, Javier Fernández-Díaz, Roberto Beteta-Göbel, Raquel Rodríguez-Lorca, Ramón Román, Victoria Lladó, Catalina A.Rosselló, Paula Fernández-García and Pablo V. Escribá.Membranes 2021.11, 919.
2021 – Garth L. Nicolson, Gonzalo Ferreira de Mattos, Michael Ash, Robert Settineri and Pablo V.Escribá Membranes 2021. 11, 994.
2021 – Roberto Beteta-Göbel, Javier Fernández-Díaz, Laura Arbona-González, Raquel Rodríguez-Lorca, Manuel Torres, Xavier Busquets, Paula Fernández-García, Pablo V.Escribá and Victoria Lladó. Cancers 2021, 13, 4290.
2020 – Hanson, D. Neuro-Oncology, 22(Suppl 3), iii304.
2020 – Torres, M., Rosselló, C. A., Fernández-García, P., Lladó, V., Kakhlon, O., & Escribá, P. V. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(7), 2322.
2020 – Parets, S., Irigoyen, Á., Ordinas, M., Cabot, J., Miralles, M., Arbona, L., Péter, M., Balogh, G., Fernández-García, P., Busquets, X. and Lladó, V. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 8, 164.
2019 – Massalha, W., Markovits, M., Pichinuk, E., Feinstein-Rotkopf, Y., Tarshish, M., Mishra, K., Llado, V., Weil, M., Escriba, P.V. and Kakhlon, O. Bioscience reports, 39(1).
2019 – Paula Fernández-García, Catalina A. Rosselló, Raquel Rodríguez-Lorca, Roberto Beteta-Göbel, Javier Fernández-Díaz, Victoria Lladó, Xavier Busquets and Pablo V. Escribá. Cancers 2019, 11, 88
2017 – Ugidos, I. F., Pérez-Rodríguez, D., & Fernández-López, A. Neural regeneration research, 12(8), 1273.
2017 – Ugidos, I.F., Santos-Galdiano, M., Pérez-Rodríguez, D., Anuncibay-Soto, B., Font-Belmonte, E., López, D.J., Ibarguren, M., Busquets, X. and Fernández-López, A. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Biomembranes, 1859(9), 1648-1656.
2017 – Mohaibes, R.J., Fiol-deRoque, M.A., Torres, M., Ordinas, M., López, D.J., Castro, J.A., Escribá, P.V. and Busquets, X. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Biomembranes, 1859(9), 1596-1603.
2017 – Casas, J., Ibarguren, M., Álvarez, R., Terés, S., Lladó, V., Piotto, S.P., Concilio, S., Busquets, X., López, D.J. and Escriba, P.V. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Biomembranes, 1859(9), 1526-1535.
2017 – Noguera-Salvà, M.A., Guardiola-Serrano, F., Martin, M.L., Marcilla-Etxenike, A., Bergo, M.O., Busquets, X. and Escribá, P.V. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Biomembranes, 1859(9), 1536-1547.
2015 – Álvarez, R., López, D.J., Casas, J., Lladó, V., Higuera, M., Nagy, T., Barceló, M., Busquets, X. and Escribá, P.V. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids, 1851(11), 1511-1520.
2016 – Manuel Torres et al. Update on Dementia. Chapter 7. Dr. Davide Moretti (Ed.) Brain Lipids in the Pathophysiology and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. InTech, DOI: 10.5772/64757
2017 – Escriba PV. Membrane-lipid therapy: A historical perspective of membrane-targeted therapies – From lipid bilayer structure to the pathophysiological regulation of cells.Biochim Biophys Acta Biomembr. 2017 Sep;1859(9 Pt B):1493-1506. doi: 10.1016
2015 – Escribá PV, Busquets X, Inokuchi JI, Balogh G, Török Z, Horváth I, Harwood JL, Vígh L.Membrane lipid therapy: Modulation of the cell membrane composition and structure as a molecular base for drug discovery and new disease treatment. . Prog Lipid Res. 2015 May 9;59:38-53. Review.
2015 – Torres M, Marcilla-Etxenike A, Fiol-deRoque MA, Escribá PV, Busquets X. Apoptosis. 2015 May; 20(5):712-24
2015 – G. Avila-Martin, I. Galan-Arriero, A. Ferrer-Donato, X. Busquets, J. Gomez-Soriano, P.V. Escribá, J. Taylor. Oral 2-hydroxyoleic acid inhibits reflex hypersensitivity and open-field-induced anxiety after spared nerve injury. Eur J Pain. 2015 Jan;19(1):111-22.
2014 – Fernández R, Lage S, Abad-García B, Barceló-Coblijn G, Terés S, López DH, Guardiola-Serrano F, Martín ML, Escribá PV, Fernández JA. Analysis of the lipidome of xenografts using MALDI-IMS and UHPLC-ESI-QTOF. J Am Soc Mass Spectrom. 2014 Jul;25(7):1237-46
2014 – Escribá, P.V. and Nicolson, G.L. Biochimica et biophysica acta, 1838(6), 1449.
2014 – Lladó, V., López, D.J., Ibarguren, M., Alonso, M., Soriano, J.B., Escribá, P.V. and Busquets, X. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Biomembranes, 1838(6), 1619-1627.
Study posters
Resources
Science communication materials for everyone
Do you want to know how melitherapy works? We have made an animation video and a series of infographics with clear illustrations and straightforward explanations of this fascinating science.
Feel free to download and share these educational materials, or even republish them — without alteration and with appropriate credit to Laminar Pharma, please!
