Ifenprodil is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (“NMDA”) receptor antagonist specifically targeting the NMDA type subunit 2B (GluN2B), which prevents glutamate signaling. Ifenprodil is one of Algernon’s lead research programs and represents a novel first-in-class potential treatment for chronic cough. It is thought to interfere with central signalling in the brain, suppressing the urge to cough.
“There are multiple converging lines of evidence that define GluN2B as the master regulator of the cough reflex in the deep brain, including human clinical data with the allosteric inhibitor Ifenprodil in the hardest to treat cough population, those with underlying idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, illustrating dramatic reductions in cough counts. This human efficacy data is complemented by an extensive safety package that de-risks the final phases of clinical development,” said
Seyltx plans to initiate an Ifenprodil multi-center Phase 2b placebo-controlled chronic cough study in CY2024. Algernon’s clinical management team will be available to provide support, oversight, and management of the study.
“We are very pleased to have closed this transaction with Seyltx,” said
In connection with the transaction,
Algernon’s Phase 2a Study Data
Algernon’s decision to advance to a Phase 2b cough study was based on positive data previously reported from the Company’s proof of concept Phase 2a study of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (“IPF”) and chronic cough, where Ifenprodil showed a significant reduction in cough count. Patients with IPF are usually excluded from trials in refractory chronic cough (“RCC”), and cough in this population is regarded as extremely difficult to treat.
Key Data:
- The geometric mean 24-hour cough counts were reduced by 32.0% at 4 weeks
(p = 0.023) and 39.5% at 12 weeks (p = 0.001) compared to baseline - The geometric mean awake cough counts were reduced by 30.2% at 4 weeks
(p = 0.038) and 37.4% at 12 weeks (p = 0.002) compared to baseline - Algernon previously announced on
January 14, 2022 , that it had received positive feedback from theU.S. Food and Drug Administration at its pre-Investigational New Drug (pre-IND) meeting for its investigation of Ifenprodil solely for the treatment of chronic cough.
About Chronic Cough
Chronic cough is defined as a cough lasting for more than eight weeks in duration and in
Chronic cough is believed to be the result of a hypersensitivity of the cough reflex within the neuronal circuitry that governs the urge to cough, wherein one or more aspects that regulate cough are over-active to stimulus, triggering a cough at abnormal levels. Trials of cough suppressants (“Antitussives”) have shown differences in response that may reflect differing pathological processes driving cough in different patients.
Experimental Antitussives (like gefapixant and camlipixant) often only engage a single receptor, while the overall cough response is governed by multiple receptors triggered by a large variety of stimuli. A compound like Ifenprodil, acting centrally in the brain where all peripheral messages are sent and coordinated, may achieve a better outcome than what has been achieved by others in clinical trials.
Chronic Cough Market
According to
Merck & Co. obtained the rights to gefapixant, a P2X3 receptor antagonist, as the lead asset in the acquisition of
Bellus Health, which was advancing camlipixant, its own novel P2X3 receptor antagonist, closed a deal on
About NP-120 (Ifenprodil)
NP-120 selectively inhibits GluN2B receptors which diminish excitability of neurons and prevent the relaying of information along neuronal circuitry, including the cough reflex. NP-120 may also inhibit the neuroplastic enhancement of central and peripheral cough response neurons.
About
Seyltx is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on addressing refractory chronic cough by modulating the master switch of the cough reflex in the brain. Refractory chronic cough is a common disorder estimated to affect between 4-5 million individuals in
About Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc.
CONTACT INFORMATION
CEO
604.398.4175 ext 701
info@algernonpharmaceuticals.com
investors@algernonpharmaceuticals.com
www.algernonpharmaceuticals.com
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Source:
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