Neuronascent, Inc., a pre-IND stage biopharmaceutical company, announced that the US Patent Office has granted expanded patent protection to the company's 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," says Judith Kelleher-Andersson, founder, president and chief executive officer of Neuronascent.

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.

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.

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.

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.