Neuronascent Announces Expanded Patent Coverage in US and Russia for Its Alzheimer's Disease and Down Syndrome Therapeutics


CLARKSVILLE, MD--(Marketwired - Feb 5, 2015) - The US Patent Office issued an allowance to Neuronascent, Inc. expanding patent protection of their new therapeutic candidate, NNI-362, beyond composition of matter and pharmaceutical compositions to coverage of its use for patients suffering from neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. In addition, the Russian Patent Office issued a first notification to grant patent coverage of the Company's lead therapeutic candidate, NNI-351, for pharmaceutical composition and a method of treatment of Down syndrome mediated by Dyrk1a activity.

"We are pleased with the expansion of patent protection for our small-molecule therapies that each might improve the lives of people affected by neurological disorders, for which there are few, if any, therapeutic options," said Judith Kelleher-Andersson, Ph.D., Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Neuronascent.

About NNI-362
Neuronascent's new chemical entity is capable of entering the brain and increasing the number of new neurons that survive to maturity, which is associated with a reversal in cognitive deficits in animal models of Alzheimer's disease. NNI-362 is in FDA-required safety testing prior to testing in Alzheimer's patients for its ability to reverse cognitive deficits by replacing neurons lost in the hippocampus of the brain.

About NNI-351
Neuronascent's lead candidate for neuropsychiatric disorders increases the proliferation of neuronal progenitors resulting in an increased number of new neurons in animal models of disease, including Down syndrome. These new neurons are associated with improvements in behavior, specifically attention, memory and hyperactivity. These are often behavioral deficits observed in individuals with Down syndrome.

About Neuronascent
Neuronascent, Inc. is a pre-IND stage biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops orally available, novel therapeutics aimed at halting or reversing chronic neurological disorders affecting tens of millions of people worldwide, including Alzheimer's disease, Down syndrome and Parkinson's disease. Following a unique discovery platform to identify novel agents that promote new neurons and ensure their survival and maturation, the Company initiated efficacy and safety studies required prior to human testing. Neuronascent has completed a pre-IND meeting with the FDA concerning its neuroregenerative agent for Alzheimer's disease, NNI-362.

Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are commonly identified by words such as "would," "may," "will," "expects," and other terms with similar meaning. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs, assumptions and expectations and speak only as of the date of this release and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

Contact Information:

Judith Kelleher-Andersson, Ph.D.
President and CSO