NeurOp receives NIH grant to support research program for ischemia

NeurOp, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing new treatments for central nervous system disorders, today announced that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded the company a $3 million grant to support its research program for ischemia. NeurOp will use the funding to advance its lead molecule to an Investigational New Drug (IND) filing for the treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and those patients at risk of a stroke.

The grant is a four-year award that provides $299,541 in funding this year. Terms of the grant require that a set of milestones and budget be met, as agreed with the NIH.

"This grant, coupled with support from the Georgia Research Alliance, will accelerate our work to identify within the year a drug candidate for ischemia to advance into pre-IND studies. This represents the third funded research program for NeurOp," said Barney Koszalka, Ph.D., NeurOp president and chief executive officer. "While this is great news for the company, I'm also excited about the potential of the research for patients. Our compounds target only the areas of the brain affected by an ischemic event, so they may preserve brain function and retain more motor, speech, and cognitive function in the event of a stroke, as well as speed recovery."

NeurOp will initially study its compounds as prophylactic treatment for SAH patients, which comprise up to seven percent of all stroke victims. Since about half of SAH patients suffer a stroke-like event within 14 days after surgery to repair the cerebral aneurysm, drug administration would immediately begin after surgery and be maintained through this critical period to improve survival and outcome should a stroke occur. If a compound proves safe and effective in SAH, NeurOp believes this approach can be expanded into other patients at risk of ischemic brain injury and in the treatment of traumatic brain injury, providing a much needed new therapy to address these serious and costly areas of medical need.

Source: NeurOp