Press Release

NoNO publishes next-gen PSD-95 inhibitors extending the therapeutic potential of PSD-95 inhibition in acute stroke

Toronto, Canada, April 7, 2021, 2PM ET – NoNO Inc., an Ontario biotechnology company developing innovative neurotherapeutics for acute stroke and other central nervous system disorders, announced today the publication of prototypes for next generation protease-resistant PSD-95 inhibitors. Published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, the article entitled “Plasmin-resistant PSD-95 inhibitors resolve effect-modifying drug-drug interactions between alteplase and nerinetide in acute stroke” demonstrates the potential of novel next-generation protease-resistant compounds for the treatment of acute ischemic strokes. Such compounds may be practically integrated into current stroke care workflows without the need to modify existing medical practice. These next generation compounds are expected to extend the therapeutic utility of PSD-95 inhibition to all eligible stroke patients, including those that are treated with drugs such as alteplase.

The next generation compounds build on nerinetide, NoNO Inc.’s clinical stage lead PSD-95 inhibitor compound. Nerinetide was recently tested in the Phase 3 ESCAPE-NA1 study which provided promising results for the clinical safety and efficacy of nerinetide in acute ischemic stroke, as published in the journal The Lancet. ESCAPE-NA1 showed that nerinetide is promising in stroke patients who do not receive prior treatment with the thrombolytic agent, alteplase, and this is currently being evaluated further in the ongoing global Phase 3 ESCAPE-NEXT study. If ESCAPE-NEXT is successful, both studies will provide support for PSD-95 inhibition as a platform therapy for stroke and related neurological disorders.

NoNO Inc. CEO Dr. Michael Tymianski commented that, “Nerinetide and next generation PSD-95 inhibitors continue to grow as a strategy for treating a wide range of neurological disorders that implicate excitotoxicity and neuroplasticity. Neuroprotection for acute ischemic stroke is achievable, and with continued improvements in our PSD-95 inhibitor technology, providing a benefit to patients in additional indications such as stroke recovery, traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer’s disease should be achievable as well.”

About NoNO Inc.

NoNO Inc. is an Ontario biotechnology company whose focus is on developing therapeutic drugs in areas of unmet medical needs. Its drug pipeline includes therapeutic agents in various stages of development ranging from cellular and molecular discovery to human clinical trials. Its lead projects relate to diseases of the nervous system whose mechanisms involve the protein PSD-95, including stroke, traumatic brain injury and neuropathic pain. NoNO Inc.’s strategy is to inhibit key protein-protein interactions of PSD-95 that are involved selectively in cellular signals that cause cell damage, but without interfering with normal cell functions. For more information, please visit www.nonoinc.ca.