Noxopharm and its majority-owned subsidiary, Nyrada, have discovered a way to inhibit IRAK4, a protein widely regarded as the 'master switch' in the development of many forms of chronic inflammation including autoimmune diseases.
Nyrada Inc is a US incorporated biotechnology company, two-thirds owned by Noxopharm and consolidated within the NOX Group, to hold the Noxopharm non-oncology drug development programs: (i) a PCSK9 inhibitor; (ii) an anti-inflammatory drug; (iii) a neuroprotectant drug.
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IRAK4 has emerged in recent years as a key switch in the cells that form the body's innate immune system. Faulty IRAK4 behavior in these innate immune cells is widely regarded as playing a key role in the development of many forms of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. This has led to IRAK4-inhibitors being widely hailed as the next generation of anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's Disease), lupus and psoriasis.
The company has discovered a compound that is a potent inhibitor of IRAK4. And while this provides an opportunity to treat the same broad range of conditions being pursued by others, the Company believes that the future of its IRAK4 program lies in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (brain and spine) and the body's peripheral nerves. This belief comes from the ability of this compound to cross the barriers that exclude the great majority of drugs from entering the brain and peripheral nerves. This ability provides what Noxopharm believes is a major opportunity to pursue drug development for inflammation associated with diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (motor neurone disease) and peripheral neuropathies (particularly diabetic peripheral neuropathy).
The company is able to make today's announcement with the recent lodgement of a US provisional patent application and a Patent Cooperative Treaty (PCT) patent application.
"A lot of attention currently is being given to developing IRAK4 inhibitors for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and gouty arthritis and lupus, but we see our discovery as a breakthrough in providing the tools needed to address inflammatory and autoimmune diseases of the nervous system," James Bonnar, Nyrada Vice-President, Research & Development, said. "Neuroinflammation has long been known to be associated with diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis. But recent evidence now shows that neuroinflammation is associated even with psychiatric conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia."
Pre-clinical programs now are being undertaken to identify the most appropriate therapeutic indication(s), with human studies likely in 2020.