RespireRx Pharmaceuticals (OTCQB:RSPI) Inc has revealed that scientists associated with the company have published a paper about its candidate KRM-II-81, which is a so-called GABAkine - a type of medicine which enhances the inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.
RespireRx is advancing a portfolio of innovative drugs to combat neurological and psychiatric conditions and its EndeavourRx business unit is advancing KRM-II-81 to treat epilespy and chronic pain.
The paper is called: "The imidazodiazepine, KRM-II-81: An example of a newly emerging generation of GABAkines for neurological and psychiatric disorders" and was published in the peer reviewed journal Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior which can be accessed via the following link: https://authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S0091-3057(21)00220-3).
A team of authors were behind the article, including scientists at RespireRx with contributions from academic collaborators from various universities and Arnold Lippa, who is RespireRx's executive chairman and chief scientific officer.
READ: RespireRx Pharmaceuticals is advancing an innovative portfolio targeting poorly or unmet patient need
Lippa said: "We are very excited about developing KRM-II-81 and going forward into IND enabling studies. Pending clinical validation, we believe that KRM-II-81 has the potential to represent a breakthrough treatment for epilepsy as well as the long sought-after alternative to narcotic analgesics for chronic pain."
The manuscript's senior author Dr Jeffrey M. Witkin added: "A pharmacological profile like that of KRM-II-81 immediately suggests a potential novel and improved therapeutic agent. At a time when GABAkines are again being enthusiastically developed, we are proud to be a part of the science devoted to improving the care of patients in need."
KRM-II-81 has a preclinical profile predicting efficacy against pharmacoresistant epilepsies, traumatic brain injury, and neuropathic pain, highlighted RespireRx.
In the area of epilepsy, the paper highlighted data to support the greater efficacy of KRM-II-81 over that of standard-of-care antiepileptic compounds in models predictive of treating epilepsies that are resistant to available medicines.
"Also, with the lack of specifically approved medicines for post-traumatic epilepsy, the ability of KRM-II-81 to suppress cortical hyperactivity after traumatic brain injury suggests a potential path forward," the firm noted.
Meanwhile, the data in animal models of chronic pain are "equally impressive" where the findings in multiple studies confirmed the robust activity of KRM-II-81 without development of tolerance, a serious health and societal issue for opioid pain therapies, said RespireRx.
"It is also argued by the data that the ability of KRM-II-81 to produce anti-anxiety and antidepressant-like actions bodes well for its potential use to ameliorate these comorbid symptoms of epilepsy and pain," it added.
The company is focused on treatments, where there is poorly or unmet need, based on modifying neurotransmission (brain signalling), which have advantages to currently available drugs, if there are any.
These include for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), epilepsy, chronic pain and spinal cord injury (SCI).
Contact the writer at giles@proactiveinvestors.com