Transparency debuts open-source drug development plan

Transparency Life Sciences LLC launched a prototype of its web platform through which patients, physicians, researchers and other stakeholders can provide input on clinical trial designs. The company believes that collaborative intelligence -- what it calls "crowdsourcing" -- during trial design will lead to trials that deliver results faster and at a much lower cost than conventional clinical studies.

Transparency is initially focusing on three repurposed compounds, for which clinical protocols are available for stakeholder input on the company's website. The protocols are: development of lisinopril, an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, for multiple sclerosis (MS); a Phase II trial for sulodexide, a heparin-like compound, to treat peripheral vascular disease; and a Phase II trial for low-dose naltrexone to treat Crohn's disease. Lisinopril is used as an anti-hypertensive agent, sulodexide is used to prevent and treat thromboembolic diseases, and naltrexone is used to treat drug and alcohol abuse. ...