NervGen Pharma will use its developing drug technology for spinal cord injuries in a new multiple sclerosis program.
Three things to know:
1. Two studies demonstrated NervGen's NVG-291 technology to support nerve remyelination in spinal cord injury and MS animal models, making it a significant opportunity to become a therapeutic for MS.
2. MS involves the immune system attacking the protective myelin sheath that covers nerve fibers, leading to communication issues between the brain and body, which can result in the deterioration of the nerves and permanent damage including the inability to walk.
3. Recent findings from a National MS Society Study published in the journal Neurology found that almost 1 million adults were living with MS in the U.S. and 2.3 million people worldwide.
"As we advance our lead drug candidate, NVG-291, towards a Phase 1 clinical trial in Q1 2020 for spinal cord injury, we are leveraging the potential for our drug to also promote nerve remyelination as a therapy for MS," said Bill Radvak, NervGen's executive chairman.