Scientists from the universities of Birmingham and Sheffield have partnered with NLC Health Ventures for the launch of Midland Pharmaceuticals to focus on the development of a new therapeutic for spinal cord injury and cerebrovascular disease, including stroke.

Dr Peter Suzdak is serving as the CEO of Midland.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The newly launched company will advance the clinical development of MLP-1236, a dual inhibitor of MMP-9 and MMP-12 enzymes that are associated with the inflammatory process following injury to the central nervous system.

MLP-1236 has concluded Phase I and Phase IIa clinical trials, demonstrating safety and tolerability.

The therapeutic has shown promise in preclinical models, effectively reversing pathologies associated with spinal cord injury and reducing brain tissue death in stroke models.

Following fundraising efforts, Midland Pharmaceuticals plans to initiate a Phase IIb clinical trial for spinal cord injury patients and a subsequent trial for stroke.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Suzdak said: “The loss of sensory and motor function that occurs following spinal cord injury and stroke represents a major unmet medical need.

“Current therapies offer only modest symptomatic benefits to these patients but do not treat the underlying neuronal damage that occurs. Inhibition of MMP-9 and -12 with MLP-1236 has the possibility of transforming the way these patients are treated.”

Stroke and spinal cord damage are medical disorders that can cause death or lifelong disability. There is a need for new, more potent therapeutic approaches since current medicines are either ineffective or just provide symptomatic alleviation.

Researchers from both universities are experienced in drug discovery and clinical development.

Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
NorthWest EHealth has won three 2025 Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards for Innovation, Safety and Diversity. Explore how its ConneXon platform is transforming SAE reporting and real-time safety oversight, while FARSITE delivers socio-economically inclusive recruitment to boost trial efficiency, data integrity and regulatory-grade representativeness.

Discover the Impact