Neu-002 by NeuDirection

[Nick47]

A biotech company has a new drug in preclinical development. They seem genuine, but I was not able to find any studies that support their reported results in animal models.

The fact that they cannot spell tinnitus was remarkable.

A New Dawn for the Tinnutus
By unraveling the mystery of phantom sounds, we propose a way to silence the ringing and bring relief to those who suffer from tinnitus. In a groundbreaking discovery, our team has identified a key G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) in the auditory pathway that can transform hyperactive neurons back to their normal functioning state. We have designed a novel agonist targeting this GPCR, which has shown promising results in normalizing neuron activity. This innovative drug offers a new therapeutic approach for treating tinnitus by restoring normal auditory processing. As we advance this potential therapy, there is renewed hope for those affected by the relentless sound of tinnitus, heralding a new dawn in tinnitus research and treatment.

Neu-002 - NeuDirection

Tinnitus Tinnitus is a neurological condition characterized by the perception of noise or ringing in the ears without an external source. It affects millions of people worldwide and can range from a mild annoyance to a debilitating disorder that significantly impacts quality of life. While the...

www.neudirection.com

 

[beefling]

Their pipeline also includes Neu-003, a drug that targets epilepsy. Interesting considering our (limited) understanding of how "tinnutus" and epilepsy potentially overlap, as far as underlying neurological mechanisms go (Kv7/retigabine anyone?).

• They report data from a GPIAS (Gap-Prepulse Inhibition) model in mice, which is a standard behavioral test for tinnitus in animals.
• According to their site: > more than 50% of mice are "cured" of tinnitus in this model when treated with Neu-002.
• They also claim that over a third of the treated mice remain cured for 1 month after treatment is stopped, suggesting "permanent cure" in some animals.

Sounds okay on paper, but we all know how animal models done with mice poorly translate to humans.

A few other key points:

• Neu-002 is a small-molecule agonist for a specific, novel GPCR in the auditory pathway.
• According to their theory, tinnitus arises because of "deafferentation(?)" (loss of input) from the cochlea. This causes certain neurons to become hyperactive.
• They suggest a "parasitic oscillation loop" between the auditory cortex and the thalamus that sustains this hyperactivity.
• Neu-002 is claimed to normalize this hyperactivity by activating the GPCR, restoring more normal neural activity.
  • They say Neu-002 has a long half-life in plasma, which is helpful for a drug (it stays active longer compared to the natural neuropeptide they're mimicking).
  • Neu-002 is described as a full agonist with high affinity and selectivity for its target GPCR, meaning it ideally activates the receptor strongly and not much else.

That last point is important because taking an unfocused/shotgun approach (and, again, I'm referencing retigabine here) carries high risk with some, er... unfortunate side effects.