A WA led team developing a new neuroprotective therapy and diagnostic to reduce disability in babies suffering brain injury has been awarded significant funding from the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation as well as UWA and local biotech company, Argenica Therapeutics bringing the total value of the program to $5.6 million.
“Neonatal encephalopathy is characterised by abnormal brain function affecting preterm and term infants,” said program leader Dr Adam Edwards. “Resulting most commonly from lack of oxygen during pregnancy or birth, this ‘umbrella’ syndrome can cause severe and permanent disabilities such as cerebral palsy and epilepsy.
“Despite significant improvements in neonatal critical care, there are no drug therapies to protect babies from this type of brain injury.”
The funding will help advance the preclinical development of a neuroprotective drug as a therapeutic, as well as a magnetic resonance imaging diagnostic for preterm and term neonatal encephalopathy.
The neuroprotective drug, ARG-007, which has demonstrated safety after a Phase I clinical trial in healthy humans, has also demonstrated the ability to significantly reduce brain cell death in preclinical models of preterm and term infant brain injury.