US biopharmaceutical company Sentynl Therapeutics Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zydus Lifesciences Limited, announced on Monday that it has signed an agreement with PRG S&T, a Korea-based developer of medicine for rare genetic diseases, to license Sentynl's investigational molecule Progerinin (SLC-D011) for Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS or progeria).

The agreement allows Sentynl to begin working with PRG S&T immediately to advance the clinical development of Progerinin (SLC-D011) for HGPS, which has been designated as an orphan drug by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Under the conditions that certain milestones are met, Sentynl will acquire full rights to the molecule for HGPS upon closing, making Progerinin the company's second therapy intended for the treatment of HGPS. The programme is currently finalising a Phase 2A clinical trial, with data expected before the end of the first half of 2026.

Progerinin is an investigational, orally active small-molecule drug being developed as a potential treatment for Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterised by accelerated ageing in children. The disease is caused by the accumulation of progerin, an abnormal form of the lamin A protein produced by mutations in the LMNA gene, which disrupts nuclear structure and leads to premature cellular aging. Progerinin is designed to inhibit the interaction and harmful effects of progerin within cells, thereby improving nuclear integrity and reducing cellular damage. It is not currently approved by FDA or any other health authority.