 US Dept of Defense Awards Neurolixis Grant for Research into Rare Movement DisorderBy: Neurolixis, Inc. Oct. 7, 2019 - PRLog -- Neurolixis Inc. has been awarded funds by the US Department of Defense to test its drug candidate, NLX-112, in a preclinical model of Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), a rare and disabling inherited movement disorder.
The $861,000 grant from the US DoD will fund a 3-year collaboration between Neurolixis and the laboratory of Prof. Patricia Maciel (University of Minho, Portugal), who has extensive experience in MJD research. Prof. Maciel commented: "Our work indicates that targeting the brain neurotransmitter, serotonin, can improve the condition of transgenic mice that express the MJD mutation. NLX-112 is potently active on the serotonin system and we anticipate that it will show promising activity in our mouse model." Adrian Newman-Tancredi, PhD, DSc, of Neurolixis commented, "We greatly appreciate the DoD's financial support for this program. Previous work carried out by Neurolixis showed that NLX-112 has potent and efficacious effects in rodent and non-human primate models of Parkinson's disease. If the effects of NLX-112 on transgenic MJD mice are favorable, the potential utility of NLX-112 could be extended to treatment of this serious movement disorder." Dr. Newman- The Award This work will be supported by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs endorsed by the Department of Defense, through the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program-Investigator Initiated Research Award under Award No. W81XWH1910638. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions and recommendations are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Department of Defense. About NLX-112 NLX-112 (also known as befiradol) acts on the brain's serotonin system and is a particularly specific and efficacious activator of neuronal proteins known as 5-HT1A receptors. By targeting these receptors, NLX-112 inhibits dyskinesia symptoms in animal models of Parkinson's disease. NLX-112 is orally administered and has previously been safely tested in over 500 human subjects. Neurolixis plans to investigate the antidyskinetic activity of NLX-112 in patients with L-DOPA-induced Parkinson's disease and, potentially, with other movement disorders such as MJD. About Machado-Joseph Disease Machado-Joseph disease (MJD)—also called spinocerebellar ataxia Type 3 (SCA3)—is a rare inherited disease characterized by clumsiness in the arms and legs, a staggering gait, difficulty with speech and swallowing, impaired eye movements and lower limb spasticity. Some individuals develop dystonia (sustained muscle contractions) About Neurolixis, Inc. Neurolixis, located in Dana Point, California, is a privately held biotechnology company developing therapies for disorders of the central nervous system. The Company has two clinical programs: NLX-112 is a Phase 2-ready program targeting Levodopa-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease, and NLX-101 is a Phase 1 drug candidate targeting Rett syndrome. Additional discovery programs target psychiatric disorders such as depression and schizophrenia. Further information is available at www.neurolixis.com Forward Looking Statement Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including: our dependence on third parties for the development, regulatory approval and successful commercialization of our products, the inherent risk of failure in developing product candidates based on new technologies, risks associated with the costs of clinical development efforts, as well as other risks. Actual results may differ materially from those projected. These forward-looking statements represent our judgment as of the date of the release. Neurolixis disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. End
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