Adial Pharmaceuticals Rebrands as Azora Therapeutics Ahead of Planned Clinical Trial
Key Points
- Adial Pharmaceuticals has changed its name to Azora Therapeutics, with Matt Davidson appointed president and CEO and Nasdaq trading under ticker AZR starting October 29.
- The rebranded company is focused on AT177, an investigational oral aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist being developed for ulcerative colitis.
- Azora expects to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial of AT177 in the first half of 2027.
Adial Pharmaceuticals has changed its corporate name to Azora Therapeutics and appointed Matt Davidson as president and CEO as the company prepares to advance its lead drug candidate into clinical development. The company announced that its common stock is expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol AZR on October 29, following the name change. On October 28, stockholders also approved the conversion of Series A preferred stock issued in connection with the company’s acquisition of Azora Therapeutics in June.
The rebranded company is focused on developing AT177, an investigational oral therapy designed to target the colon. The candidate is an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist that Azora is developing for ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the colon and rectum.
Azora expects to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial of AT177 in the first half of 2027. The candidate is designed to activate the AhR pathway, which plays a role in regulating immune responses and maintaining the intestinal barrier. The company aims to use this mechanism to address underlying processes involved in intestinal inflammation.
Davidson says the name change marks a new stage for the company as it prepares to move AT177 into clinical testing. He notes that the program is rooted in patient experiences and is intended to explore a targeted approach to restoring intestinal health in people with ulcerative colitis. The company has established the capital, team, and infrastructure needed to support its planned clinical development activities. The upcoming Phase 1 study is expected to represent the next major milestone for AT177 as Azora evaluates the candidate’s potential to translate AhR agonism into a new treatment approach for inflammatory bowel disease.
For more information, visit www.adial.com.
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