VistaGen Therapeutics, Inc. Announces Data from Nonclinical Studies
January 31, 2019 at 08:30 am
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VistaGen Therapeutics, Inc. announced data from nonclinical studies indicating that its orally available CNS drug candidate, AV-101 (4-chlorokynurenine), promotes hippocampal neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons are formed in a region of the brain that involves high-level functions such as emotions, memory, and spatial navigation and exploration. Robert Schwarcz, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, and Gloria Hoffman, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, Morgan State University, Baltimore, conducted the rodent studies, which showed increased neurogenesis in the hippocampus following oral daily dosing of AV-101 for 14 -16 days. Neurogenesis was demonstrated by detecting an increased number of cells containing Ki67, a marker of dividing cells, scored by scientists blinded to the treatment groups. These results are consistent with recent observations that sustaining the therapeutic activity of other new generation fast-acting antidepressants, such as ketamine, is dependent on a neurogenic effect. The detailed results of these studies will be presented at an upcoming psychiatry conference.
Vistagen Therapeutics, Inc. is a neuroscience-focused biopharmaceutical company. The Company is engaged in the development and commercialization of therapies for psychiatric and neurological disorders based on its understanding of nose-to-brain neurocircuitry. Its clinical-stage pipeline consists of intranasal product candidates from a new class of potential neuroscience therapies called pherines. Its diversified pipeline of pherine product candidates rapidly activate chemosensory neurons in the nasal cavity to impact fundamental neurocircuitry in the olfactory system and the brain. Its pipeline also includes an oral prodrug with potential to modulate N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA) receptor activity. Its neuroscience pipeline includes five clinical-stage investigational agent, namely Fasedienol (PH94B), Itruvone (PH10), AV-101, PH15, PH80, and PH284.