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Purdue spinout Neuro Vigor is developing a multiple sclerosis therapeutic that builds on the oxidative stress model of neurological disease: It’s targeting a neurotoxin that is more reactive and toxic than most free radicals, leading to nerve cell, mitochondrial and DNA degradation.
It’s got plans to repurpose an FDA-cleared generic drug to mitigate and potentially rid the system of the neurotoxins associated with tissue inflammation and nerve cell damage. Its specific focus is on the neurotoxin acrolein‘s impact on the CNS, and finding drugs to cut down levels of this compound.
The Indiana startup’s aim is to reduce the symptoms and pain associated with neurological injury and disease, stemming from conditions like multiple sclerosis, neuropathic pain and Parkinson’s disease.
The company’s initial focus will be to develop an FDA-cleared acrolein scavenger drug, and companion diagnostic, to treat multiple sclerosis. It’ll ideally impact MS’s remit and relapse cycles, and delay progression of the disease.
The tech is licensed from Purdue University, based on more than 15 years of research from the company’s cofounder and chief scientist, Riyi Shi, a biomed engineering and neurosciences professor at the school. See a brief interview with him here:
