Cyclerion Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:CYCN) recently revealed its findings from a phase 1 translational pharmacology study evaluating a soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator called IW-6463.
The company has been developing IW-6463 is a soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator aimed at treating people with central nervous system (CNS) disorders. 24 patients were enrolled in the crossover study during which they were treated with IW-6463 for 15 days. Researchers observed that patients treated with a single daily oral dose of the pipeline therapy showed signs of blood-brain-barrier penetration. The latter represents desirable engagement and exposure levels within the targets set by the researchers.
The study findings indicate favorable results
The study subjects treated with the developmental drug demonstrated notable improvements in objective performance, as well as neurophysiological measures. They are the same measures that have previously been linked to age-related neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive decline. IW-6463’s safety profile also indicates that the treatment was well-tolerated and safe.
“These data show that IW-6463 has a positive effect on brain neurophysiology that has been associated with age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases,” Cyclerion’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Chris Wright affirmed in a statement.
Dr. Wright also added that the results highlight nitric oxide’s important role as a neurotransmitter that can deliver significant therapeutic advantages that largely remain untapped. The Chief Medical Officer revealed that the company plans to start enrolling patients onto the MELAS study before the end of 2020. The study will ride on previous data collected from translational pharmacology study which will also play a role in the design of the MELAS study.
What does Cyclerion intend to do after the MELAS study?
The data that will be collected from the two studies will act as a template on which Cyclerion will explore IW-6463’s ability to provide therapeutic relief against a variety of CNS diseases. So far the results from the phase 1 translational pharmacology study have been rapid, consistent, and robust. This provides a strong basis for pushing forward with advanced studies and also more trust in the mechanism that the drug uses to provide the therapeutic needs presented by CNS diseases.
