Neurexis Therapeutics, an Aurora, CO-based biopharmaceutical company focused on developing neuroprotective interventions, has been awarded a $3 million Phase II Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Institutes of Health.
The grant, funded through the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), will support the company’s efforts to bring its lead neuroprotective compound, tatCN19o, closer to human clinical trials. The compound shows excellent potential for protecting neurons following Global Cerebral Ischemia (GCI), a condition that occurs during events such as cardiac arrest, drowning or suffocation.
This grant will allow Neurexis to further develop tatCN19o, a peptide-based therapeutic that targets the enzyme CaMKII, a crucial player in synaptic plasticity and memory. The compound has demonstrated neuroprotective properties in preclinical models, even when administered after GCI has already occurred, providing a potential breakthrough treatment for patients who have suffered from this condition.
Led by Dr. Olivia Asfaha, Chief Operating Officer, and Dr. Michael Artinger, CEO, Neurexis aims to develop life-saving therapies that target key mechanisms of neurodegeneration and neurological diseases, such as GCI, Stroke, Alzheimer’s and Traumatic Brain Injury.