Addex erapeutics announced that data published in Brain demonstrating the potential therapeutic role of mGlu5 receptor negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) in facilitating functional recovery following stroke supports the future development of dipraglurant in post-stroke recovery. Dipraglurant is a novel, orally available, highly selective mGlu5 NAM ready for Phase 2 clinical studies, currently being evaluated in preclinical models of post-stroke recovery. Functional recovery following stroke relies on the formation of new or reactivation of existing neural connections while accumulating evidence suggests that the mGlu5 receptor modulates brain plasticity and function.

The researchers investigated the influence of mGlu5 inhibition on this network reorganization and functional recovery in preclinical models of stroke. In the publication, titled "Inhibiting metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 after stroke restores brain function and connectivity", the data showed that daily treatment with mGlu5 NAMs for 12 days, starting 2 or 10 days after stroke, restored lost somatosensory functions without diminishing infarct size. Within hours of treatment, somatosensory recovery expressed in normalized use of affected limbs, was apparent and progressed for the subsequent 12 days.

There is a huge unmet medical need for novel treatments to help stroke patients recover, and there are currently no approved drugs that promote functional recovery.