Bionure, Barcelona based biotech company that develops neuroprotectant agents to treat neurodegenerative diseases primarily focusing on rare ophthalmologic diseases as Acute Optic Neuritis (AON) and Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) , announces the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial of its lead compound BN201 in the United Kingdom .

BN201 is a first - in - class compound that promotes cell survival and endogenous natural repair by activating SKG2, an intracellular serine/threonine kinase that plays a crucial role in the response of neurons to stress and its survival. The Phase 1 clinical trial is intended to investigate safety , tolerability and pharmacokinetics of single and multiple doses of BN201 in healthy volunteers. Results are expected by the end of the year and the company’s pla n is to start a Phase 2a trial in 2019.

Currently, there are no therapeutic drugs in the market for AON and NMO . Patients are treated with corticosteroids and immunomodulators that reduces inflammation but do not repair the nerve damage. BN201 has demonstrated neuroprotective activity and stimulates remyelination by differentiating OPCs (Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells) into mature oligodendrocytes and thus promoting the formation of myelin sheaths around axons. Both actions make BN201 a promising solution for AON and NM O patients and open a research pathway to treat other neurodegenerative diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

“The start of the Phase I clinical trial is an important milestone for Bionure . We are excited to see BN201 move forward into the clinic, one step closer to reac hing patients. ”, sai d Mar Massó , Managing Director of Bionure .

The beginning of the clinical trial marks the highlight of the next stage initiated by Bionure, which has renewed its Board of Directors. The board is now chaired by Guy P. Nohra , founder of Alta Life Sciences, co - founder of Alta Partners ($2 billion raised from 1996 to 2006) and expert LS investor. In addition, Paul Frohna, MD, Rajiv M ahadevan and Josep Herrero have joined the board along with Mo nts errat Vendrell from Alta . N euro - ophthalmologist Craig Smith , until now a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Bionure, is joining the company as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) . “BN201 has demonstrated benefits in several animal models of damage, including demyelination, inflammation and neurodegeneration, and has been shown to promote neuronal and axonal protection and myelin repair,” stated Dr. Smith . “We believe that BN201 has the potential to provide a novel therapeutic approach for AON, NMO and Multiple Sclerosis patients.” Dr. Smith brings his long experience in companies such as Genentech and Novartis, leading teams in neuroscience and ophthalmology . Dr. Smith is a Senior Ad visor/Consultant with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and throughout his career he has led several investigations in Optic Neuritis and Multiple Sclerosis. "

The addition as CMO of Dr. Craig Smith will undoubtedly give a very valuable boost to the cl inical development of BN201 " , said Guy P. Nohra .

Alta Life Sciences is leading a Series A round of 4 million euros to finance the clinical development of the BN201 for AON and NMO, that affects 130,000 patien ts a year only in United States and Europe which give a potential market of about €1,000 million/year .

About Bionure

Bionure is a biotech company developing first - in - class SGK agonists for the treatment of different neurodegenerative disorders for which no treatment options are nowadays available. Bionure , a Hospital Clinic spinoff, was founded in 2009 by Dr. Pablo Villoslada and Albert G. Zamora .

About AON and NMO

Acute Optic Neuritis (AON) and Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) are rare neuro - ophthalmologic diseases caused by an autoimmune reaction that produces inflammation and demyelination of the optic nerve (that can extend to spinal cord and brain in NMO). Currently, AON and NMO patients are treated with corticosteroids and immunomod ulators that reduce inflammation but do no t regenerate the nerve damage. There is no drug approved in the market to treat AON and NMO

Subscribe to Directory
Write an Article

Recent News

El diagnóstico genético neonatal mejor...

Un estudio con datos de los últimos 35 años, ind...

Más de 1.500 cambios epigenéticos en e...

Un equipo de investigadores de la Universidad Juli...

Tuneable reverse photochromes in the sol...

A new technique allows the design of solid materia...

Highlight

Eosinófilos. ¿Qué significa tener val...

by Labo'Life

​En nuestro post hablamos sobre este interesante tipo de célula del...

Un estudio de INCLIVA muestra el efecto ...

by INCLIVA

Han desarrollado un estudio para evaluar la correlación entre el teji...

Photos Stream