Syntara Limited (ASX: SNT), a clinical-stage drug development company, is pleased to announce that the first patient has been dosed in the SATELLITE study — a Phase 1c clinical trial investigating the safety and tolerability of its topical lysyl oxidase inhibitor SNT-6302 (formerly known as PXS-6302) for the treatment of keloid scars.
The SATELLITE trial, led by Professor Fiona Wood and conducted through the Fiona Wood Foundation and UWA, addresses the critical unmet need for effective treatments in keloid scarring. Keloid scars grow over time in area and depth, are disfiguring and debilitating and often associated with chronic pain, itch, and significant psychological distress. Current treatment options are limited and only partially effective, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic approaches.
“Keloid scars present unique challenges distinct from other forms of scarring, including hypertrophic scars,” said Professor Fiona Wood, principal investigator of the trial. “The SATELLITE study aims to explore whether multiple topical applications of SNT-6302 can significantly improve patient outcomes, not only by reducing the volume of the scar but also alleviating associated symptoms such as pain and itch.”
The trial follows promising results from the SOLARIA2 study, where a three month treatment with SNT-6302 demonstrated a 30% reduction in collagen content and improved vascularisation in established scars —processes considered pivotal in addressing keloid pathology.
The SATELLITE trial is an open-label study with a placebo-controlled component for patients presenting with multiple keloids. Up to 20 participants, aged 18 years and above, with active keloids measuring between 5 and 25 cm² will undergo a 4 week placebo run-in period. Subsequently, participants will apply topical SNT 6302 four days per week for a treatment period of three months. Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy — including changes in keloid volume, collagen attenuation, tissue stiffness, and patient-reported outcomes of pain and itch — will be rigorously assessed.
At this time, Professor Wood and Gary Phillips, CEO of Syntara, would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the enormous contribution made over more than a decade by Dr Mark Fear, who sadly passed away in an accident on the morning of 4 July 2025. Mark was a Senior Scientist at the Fiona Wood Foundation and an Associate Professor at UWA’s Burn Injury Research Unit.
Fiona Wood said: “Mark pushed the boundaries of knowledge over many years’ specifically with the aim to solve the problem of fibrosis. He instilled in the team the need to challenge dogma backed up with clarity in experimental design in exploring the problems faced. He will be sorely missed but his legacy will build into the future.”
Gary Phillips added: “Mark inspired and encouraged us from the very beginning to explore pharmacological skin scarring treatments and has been fundamental to our understanding of the science behind it. We aim to honour his legacy as we continue to address the significant clinical issues in the management of scars, leveraging our expertise alongside world-class research partners, to provide much-needed therapeutic alternatives for patients globally.”
Syntara plans to dose the first patient with its next-generation topical pan-LOX inhibitor, SNT-9465, in a Phase 1 study targeting hypertrophic scars, by the end of July. Ethics approval has been secured, and preparatory site initiation activities have been successfully completed.
Read the full announcement here.
