Australian company Nyrada (ASX:NYR) has announced positive results from its preclinical study evaluating the efficacy of its Brain Injury Program drug candidate NYR-BI03 in preventing secondary brain injury.
The company said the study showed a significant neuroprotective signal providing strong evidence of efficacy.
Nyrada CEO James Bonnar said, “These study results mark a significant milestone in our Brain Injury program, providing strong evidence that our drug candidate NYR-BI03 has the potential to protect the brain from secondary injury. The magnitude of rescue achieved in this study is a compelling outcome and signals a significant therapeutic and market opportunity.
“This work is critical for our development pathway for NYR-BI03, giving us confidence as we advance it through to GLP safety and toxicology studies ahead of a first-in-human clinical trial currently planned to commence in the second half of this calendar year.”
Nyrada said its Brain Injury Program is seeking to develop therapies to reduce the long-term disability associated with stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI) by limiting the progressive cell death that occurs as secondary brain injury. Stroke and TBI are leading causes of death and disability worldwide.
Nyrada’s lead program candidate, NYR-BI03, is a first-in-class therapy with a novel mechanism of action that limits secondary brain injury that occurs following a stroke or TBI.
It said NYR-BI03 has been developed to selectively block 'Canonical' Transient Receptor Potential (TRPC) ion channels which are over-activated during brain trauma, causing calcium overload leading to brain cell death. At present, there are no FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of secondary brain injury.
Nyrada said a preclinical stroke study was completed to assess the efficacy of NYR-BI03. The study showed a significant neuroprotective signal providing strong evidence of efficacy.