Nyrada Inc. announced the selection of a new version of its brain injury candidate (NYR-BI01) to be taken forward into its collaboration studies with WRAIR. NYR-BI01 is a more potent and drug- like version of its predecessor, NYX-1010. NYR-BI01 showed high potency in a biological assay and impressive drug-like characteristics in a pharamacokinetic (PK) study, intended to determine the level at which it penetrates the brain. In the PK study, NYR-BI01 was administered to uninjured animals via continuous intravenous (IV) infusion at two doses for 72 hours, 1 and 10 mg/kg/hr, to assess blood concentrations and brain penetration. The study duration aligns with the therapeutic window for preventing secondary brain injury in patients. Highlights: New lead drug candidate NYR-BI01 advances to efficacy studies in collaboration with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR). NYR-BI01 showed improved potency, along with excellent Pharmacokinetic (PK) properties and blood-brain barrier penetration. Drug levels in the brain were significantly higher than those required to deliver a therapeutic effect and NYR-BI01 was well-tolerated throughout the 72-hour study. WRAIR study to commence in H2 2021 with results expected in Fourth Quarter 2021. Pharmacokinetic Study Results: At all three time points for both the 1mg/kg/hour and 10mg/kg/hour doses, drug levels were detected in quantities significantly greater than required to block the intended protein target in brain cells to produce a therapeutic effect. There was a dose-dependent increase (~30x at the 72-hour time point) of the level of drug concentration detected. Pleasingly, no adverse effects were observed in the animals at either dose level and no significant changes were observed in markers of liver and kidney function or body weight, indicating that the drug is well-tolerated even at the higher dose of 10mg/kg/hour. In the lead-up to the efficacy study at WRAIR where NYR-BI01 will be tested in an animal model of traumatic brain injury (TBI), this study has provided critical data which will guide the efficacy study design.