Neuren granted US patent for NNZ-2566

Neuren Pharmaceuticals has announced that its patent application entitled "GPE Analogs and Peptidomimetics" (PCT/US02/16361) has been issued in the United States (US Patent No: 7,041,314) on 9 May 2006.

The patent describes Neuren's second pipeline drug, NNZ-2566, a neuroprotective analogue of Glypromate.

The US patent is extremely wide-ranging, covering the chemical composition of NNZ-2566 in all formulations as well as all uses of the compound and specifically claims all pharmaceutical compositions of NNZ-2566 including compositions for oral administration over a wide range of dosages and administration of NNZ-2566 via other routes. The patent also specifically covers therapeutic applications of NNZ-2566 for the treatment of damage to the central nervous system.

Neuren now has the exclusive rights to make, sell and use NNZ-2566 in the US until 24 May 2022 (priority date 24 May 2001). The US patent gives Neuren a unique position to investigate and commercialise NNZ-2566 as a systemic neuroprotective treatment following acute insults to the central nervous system such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke or oxygen deprivation of the brain associated with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery as well as chronic degenerative conditions of the central nervous system such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Neuren is currently co-developing NNZ-2566 as a treatment for TBI with the US Army's Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR). The issued US patent is the parent to the recent patent filing by Neuren based on the results of experiments by WRAIR showing a reduction in non-convulsive seizures after administration of NNZ-2566. Non-convulsive seizures are an important predictor of recovery following TBI. NNZ-2566 is currently undergoing a Phase 1 safety and pharmacokinetics trial.

In addition to therapeutic use of NNZ-2566 in acute indications, Neuren plans to develop NNZ-2566 as a protective therapeutic in a variety of chronic neurodegenerative diseases.

Each year in the US there are 400,000 CABG procedures, 800,000 strokes and 1.5 million TBI incidents.