Our novel drug candidate blocks the cis-interaction between Repulsive Guidance Molecule A (RGMa) and Neogenin and disrupts Neogenin incorporation in lipid rafts. This candidate’s therapeutic interaction promotes cell survival and axonal regeneration in severe medical conditions including retinitis pigmentosa, multiple sclerosis, ischemia (e.g., stroke), and spinal cord injury. The ideal strategy to ameliorate CNS damage is through promoting both survival and axonal regeneration.

UNMET NEED
4IG targets the neuronal regeneration pathway that has not yet been drugged. Multiple disease indications are implicated including Retinitis Pigmentosa, Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury, and Multiple Sclerosis.

INNOVATION
Biologic therapeutic comprised of ~400 amino acid, soluble Ig extracellular domain of Neogenin

Dual mechanism of action by:
1.binding (Repulsive Guidance Molecule a (RGMa) and
2. inhibiting Neogenin incorporation in lipid rafts

Potential therapeutic for preventing neuronal death in multiple human indication through direct effect at neurons and indirect effect through reducing permeability of Blood Brain Barrier

APPLICATION/UTILITIES
Biologic therapeutic targeting diseases involving neurodegeneration; multi-disease potential (one product).

INVESTMENT & OBJECTIVES
 $5-7M for IND enabling studies.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
Closest competitors are elezanumab and unasnemab, which are under development from AbbVie Inc and Mitsubushi Tanabe Pharma Corp, respectively.   Both elezanumab and unasnemab  are intravenously administered, α-RGMa monoclonal antibodies. Elezanumab is under Phase II development for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, acute ischemic stroke, primary and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury. Unasnemab is under Phase II development for the treatment of spinal cord injury and Phase I development for the treatment of Tropical Spastic Paraparesis.

Whereas elezanumab and unasnemab have a single mechanism action, 4Ig both binds RGMa and inhibits the incorporation of Neogenin in lipid rafts.

‍MARKET SIZE
·   Global stroke therapy market expected to grow to over $US10B by 2027

·   Global Multiple Sclerosis therapy market expected to grow to over US$29B by 2030

·   Global Retinitis Pigmentosa therapy market expected to exceed US$2B by 2030

·   Global spinal cord injury treatment market expected to reach almost US$3B by 2027

IP PORTFOLIO
Two patent families describing methods, with 6 issued patents and 1 issued patent.

CURRENT MANAGEMENT TEAM
‍n/a

CURRENT READINESS LEVEL
Proof of concept/pre-clinical.‍

EIR STATUS
‍Recruitment in progress.

‍SCIENTIFIC FOUNDER(S)
Dr. Philippe Monnier, Senior Scientist, Krembil Research Institute, an accomplished researcher focused on uncovering the role of extracellular proteins in the developing and regenerating CNS.