Nyrada’s NYR-BI03 shows significant cardioprotective efficacy in preclinical study

A preclinical rat study using Nyrada’s (ASX: NYR) lead drug candidate NYR-BI03 has demonstrated up to 86% efficacy in limiting cardiovascular damage associated with coronary heart disease following acute myocardial ischaemic-reperfusion injury.

The findings are believed to position NYR-BI03 as a novel cardioprotective treatment following myocardial infarction, which is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.

The global market for treatments is anticipated to grow at a compound annual rate of 6.8% to reach US$3.7 billion by 2032.

Heart protection

Ischaemic-reperfusion injury is a leading cause of tissue damage following the restoration of blood flow to the heart post-injury.

Nyrada commissioned the rat study to assess the cardioprotective efficacy of NYR-BI03, with the results showing the drug could be superior to current treatment Captopril.

Captopril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor commonly administered following ischaemic events and has been previously approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

First-in-class treatment

Nyrada is currently developing NYR-BI03 as a first-in-class neuroprotection treatment for patients with stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The company reported preclinical stroke study results in February that showed the drug could provide a statistically significant level of neuroprotection in the penumbra region of treated animals.

“On average, NYR-BI03 therapy rescued 42% of brain injury in the penumbra region compared to vehicle animals and the mean neurofilament light chain (NfL) level for the animals treated with NYR-BI03 was 41% lower than that of the vehicle control,” the company said at the time.

Broadened potential

Nyrada chief executive officer James Bonnar said the latest rat study broadens the potential therapeutic application of NYR-BI03 to include coronary heart disease.

“This is an exciting development for us, as it presents additional therapeutic and commercial options for our lead drug candidate,” he said.

“These cardiovascular study results leverage our knowledge and expertise in transient receptor potential canonical channel-blocking therapies, and the work being done in our brain injury program can also be utilised to support clinical development in this indication.”

Tolerability studies

NYR-BI03 is currently undergoing Good Laboratory Practice safety and tolerability studies ahead of a first-in-human Phase I clinical trial expected to start before the year’s end.

Mr Bonnar said the drug has the potential to progress directly to Phase II trials to assess its efficacy in stroke, TBI and myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion injury.