NeuroVive is party to an ongoing collaboration with Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL) and Professor Michel Ovize (the OPeRa program), which has focused on cardiovascular disease to date. The establishment of a French subsidiary, NeuroVive France, increases NeuroVive’s presence in the country while simultaneously extending the partnership with HCL to include drug development for the treatment of stroke.
The extended collaboration gives NeuroVive unique access to models for pre-clinical testing of new drug candidates as well as competencies in various types of reperfusion injury that are key clinical problems in acute medical conditions such as myocardial infarct and stroke. NeuroVive also stands to benefit from this expertise within the framework of its recently announced collaboration with Isomerase Therapeutics on the development of the NVP014 project, which now becomes closely linked with the extended partnership with HCL.
The establishment of a French subsidiary enables NeuroVive to participate as an industrial partner in applications for national funding in France (RHU grants). An application for close to EUR 10 m in funding during a five-year period which includes NeuroVive alongside HCL and other industrial partners has already been submitted. NeuroVive expects the outcome of the application to be announced during the fall. There is a risk that the application can be dismissed and that the consortium does not receive any funding.
At present, NeuroVive employs one person on a consultancy basis in Lyon, who primarily handles contacts with HCL and the work associated with the CIRCUS study. Should funding be allocated, either from the current or future applications for national or international funds, NeuroVive intends to employ research staff on a project basis for the extended stroke program in order to complete pre-clinical and clinical trials.
“The extended collaboration between NeuroVive and HCL to include drug development for the treatment of stroke gives us a great opportunity to benefit even more from on the resources and contact network we’ve gained access to through the OPeRa program. The timing of the establishment of our French subsidiary is also optimal considering NeuroVive’s French operations. The initial results from the CIRCUS study are expected in the third quarter 2015, and NeuroVive needs a French legal entity ahead of potential commercialization in France,” commented NeuroVive’s CEO Mikael Brönnegård.
About NeuroVive
NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB (publ), the mitochondrial medicine company, is developing a portfolio of products to treat acute cardiovascular and neurological conditions through mitochondrial protection. These medical conditions are characterized by a pressing medical need and have no approved pharmaceutical treatment options at present. NeuroVive’s products CicloMulsion® (myocardial infarct) and NeuroSTAT® (traumatic brain injury) are currently being evaluated in phase III and phase II studies, respectively. NeuroVive’s research programs also include products for the treatment of brain cell injury in stroke patients, and drug candidates for cellular protection and treating mitochondria-related energy regulation diseases. NeuroVive’s shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX, Stockholm, Sweden.
For Investor Relations and media questions, please contact:
Ingmar Rentzhog, Laika Consulting, Tel: +46 (0)46 275 62 21 or ir@neurovive.se. It is also possible to arrange an interview with NeuroVive’s CEO Mikael Brönnegård or COO Jan Nilsson at the above contact.
NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB (publ)
Medicon Village, SE-223 81 Lund, Sweden, Tel: +46 (0)46 275 62 20 (switchboard), Fax: +46 (0)46 888 83 48, info@neurovive.se, www.neurovive.se
NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB (publ) is required to publish the information in this news release under The Swedish Securities Market Act. The information was submitted for publication on 20 April, 2015, at 8.30 a.m. CET.