Digestome Therapeutics, a US-based biotech company developing first-in-class therapeutics that stimulate the central nervous system (CNS) via the gut-brain-axis, announced on Friday that it has completed an exclusive out-licensing agreement of DGX-001 in the greater China territory with Zhongze Therapeutics.

The product is a first-in-class oral therapeutic being initially developed to treat negative symptoms and cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia, and of non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's Disease. It is gut-acting and gut-restricted and acts on the CNS via the vagus nerve, thereby modulating parasympathetic activity.

DGX-001 is scheduled to start first-in-human studies in the first quarter of 2022.